While I agree with all the key points stated, I have to wonder if this is an example of fauxtography — the man in question would have the armrest in his leg, not to mention be unable to get a seat belt around him correctly (even with an extender).

David on December 2, 2009 at 1:42 pm

He must be like 7 ft tall.

Kirk on December 2, 2009 at 1:45 pm

Those arm wrests look like the type on the charter bus I recently rode in. They twist down and match the curviture of the seat which would allow him to sit porperly.

Ken Blazek on December 2, 2009 at 1:49 pm

He is sitting on the arm rest (poor arm rest..)

PDMac60 on December 2, 2009 at 1:51 pm

Imagine if this guy had to use the Lav on that flight to drop a Deuce. Society needs to stop coddling and comforting Fat People. Obesity is a weakness, not an illness or disease.

Yiddish Steel on December 2, 2009 at 1:52 pm

Yiddish Steel,

I agree with you. I may be over-weight, but I suppose that’s my own fault for eating too much and exercising too little. Obesity is not an illness or disease- neither is drug addiction. It’s CHOICE.

Former obesity nurse

Mary on December 2, 2009 at 2:02 pm

For safety purposes I would have to think the pilot would have to be notified whenever that slob decides to leave his seat. I would demand to be moved to another seat if I saw that monstrosity approaching a seat by me.

Joe on December 2, 2009 at 2:22 pm

This to happened to me on a bus and I’m a big guy myself (broad shoulder and massive muscles) but I had the only seat available. That fat slob was real lucky murder isn’t legal in some cases.

seahawker on December 2, 2009 at 2:31 pm

There’s a difference between being obese and having a blocky build. Someone big can be still be handsome or beautiful. But carrying excess weight is not only unsightly; its dangerous to one’s health and the safety of others.

NormanF on December 2, 2009 at 2:39 pm

Debbie, you hate fat people.

FYI there is a biologic/metabolic component with the morbidly obese. Yes, they CHOOSE to over eat but why? Is something with their biology or brain chemistry compelling them? Obesity does not respond to psychotherapy.

There is also Metabolic Syndrome with can lead to type II diabetes. Those afflicated are born with it–they don’t CHOOSE to have the metabolic defect. While they may not necessarily turn out to be obese, they will never be slim–no matter how much they try. Even if they were obsessive-compulsive and worked out every day like a maniac, spending hours at the gym, they would not be slim.

Fat people make me uncomfortable, too. But I don’t sneer at them.

lexi on December 2, 2009 at 2:48 pm

What really gives me the creeps are the anorexics and the tanning bed addicts. And the smokers.

lexi on December 2, 2009 at 2:52 pm

He does indeed have a glandular problem : Overactive salivary glands.

not to mention dangerous center of gravity issues when he goes to the rear lavatory

BC on December 2, 2009 at 2:56 pm

I’m a fatty. Not as fat as that guy, mind you, but I am morbidly obese. I can tell you that I USED to have no control. I’d look at a donut, and my jaw would literally ache from my salivary glands producing so much so fast. I tried will power, because skinny people swore it was merely a self control issue. I tried psychologists, and psychiatrists. They had no insight whatsoever. I’ve read my weight in diet and nutrition books.

My doctor, put me on the South Beach diet. I begrudgingly did “yet another diet plan to fail at”. But this diet, after trying countless others, gave me control. I’ve lost 62 pounds over the past 6 months (plenty more to go, I’m not looking for kudos). At work, friends know I’m dieting, and will literally pass donuts under my nose. And for the first time since my mid 20’s, I have the ability to happily say no. It’s not an “I wish, but no” attitude, it’s a “nah, don’t want it” thing.

Contrary to what people think, obesity isn’t ONLY about self control. Nor do I think there’s a “one size fits all” answer to it.

I think many who spew vile towards people like me do it, because they have nothing else to make them feel good about themselves.

Debbie, would it be acceptable, to hate the whole of the Jewish people, because you, being Jewish, hate the whole of us?

Kirk on December 2, 2009 at 3:05 pm

He was intentionally seated smack in the middle of the fuselage. That way the plane is balanced.

Shy Guy on December 2, 2009 at 3:19 pm

Fat people are fat because they eat too much, exercise too little, and have no self-control. It has NOTHING to do with metabolism or any other thing.

For proof: Look how almost any morbidly obese person who has gastric bypass surgery always get fat again in a year or so after. Why? Because of their eating habits.

Fat people should do what Buddhist monks do, eat only until 6/10 full. Then exercise and avoid snacks.

JM on December 2, 2009 at 5:02 pm

Debbie wrote “The airlines must be happy there are no longer meals or free snacks on most domestic flights because I don’t think the food tray had any chance of squeezing past him down the aisle.”

In which way wouldn’t the snack cart be able to get past this guy? Is it that his blubber takes up over half of the aisle or that he wouldn’t let the cart get by. You know, he would have a death grip on it.

Jarhead on December 2, 2009 at 5:35 pm

Fuggit, let the Muslims take over. Humanity is completely lost in this country anyways.

Kirk on December 2, 2009 at 5:51 pm

When pigs fly

pat on December 2, 2009 at 6:07 pm

I smell Photoshop.

CaliforniaScreaming on December 2, 2009 at 9:48 pm

I flew to the east coast last month and I noticed that all the heavier people were boarding in first class so they could have a bit more room. The rest of us were jamed in like sardines.
We did not get food, but a snack cart did go down the asile with beverages.

Diane Smith on December 3, 2009 at 10:48 am

Photoshop or not, this is commonplace when traveling today and is a problem. For the people who think think that I am being biased against fat people, have any of you been forced to sit next to someone this large when flying cross country? I have, and it makes a miserable traveling experience much worse. You can do almost nothing because you cannot move your arms because half of your seat is taken up by these people who, for the most part, have no self control or self esteem.

Jarhead on December 3, 2009 at 10:58 am

Did it occur to anyone that the guy is talking to the fellow sitting next to him and that is not the seat(s) he is sitting in? That’s why he’s temporarily sitting on the armrest, because he can’t stand in the isle without disturbing people.

Shy Guy on December 3, 2009 at 12:29 pm

I cannot tell if this particular story is real or not, but there are very large people roaming around out there!

What puzzles me is that the airlines have not simply made accomidations for them. While many people look at this picture and point a finger in one direction or another, it would seem that the real problem is not the size of the flyer, but rather the lack of passenger awareness by the airlines.

One of the major airlines should create and market a new section for people that want larger seats for whatever reason! Not a ‘first class’ section, but rather just a ‘robust flier’ section. They could cater to fliers that want larger seats and price those seats accordingly. Remember when there were smoking and non-smoking sections?

Clearly, it is the airlines themselves that are not taking care of their customers properly.

Freddy on December 3, 2009 at 12:52 pm

Debbie, there ARE legitimate disorders out there that do make people obese.

Ever hear of Prader-Wili syndrome?

Or Polycystic Ovary syndrome?

These disorders are VERY real! They do make people obese.

C’mon Debbie! You’re a member of Mensa! You should know this!

I’m super lucky that I don’t have these disorders but there are people out there who do!

Charybdis_SeaStar on December 3, 2009 at 8:06 pm

The row behind him appears to be empty…..I would think they would have put him in it……..doubt this is a real pic!

shelley on December 4, 2009 at 12:00 am

Freddy, you’re brilliant!

Some others: the physical and psychological “need” to eat varies in people, according to genetics and insulin resistance. Some, who feel less desire, may brag about it and sneer at others, who have a much more difficult time.

It’s like a great baseball player saying “all it takes is the will and the practice.” Your own effors are part of it, but the ABILITY (to control appetite, to draw or sing, to hit a ball, to look good, to understand concepts) varies from person to person.

What is hard-but-possible to some to achieve (and yes, this includes keeping trim), may be darn near impossible to others. depending on the material you’re born with

Conservababe on December 4, 2009 at 11:16 pm

I only condemn the backyard of my neighbor when it spills over into my plane seat.

KDK on December 8, 2009 at 4:41 pm

I lost five pounds this week just to make flying safer.

The Terrorist's Advocate on January 16, 2010 at 9:21 am

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agpman on May 21, 2010 at 8:49 am

are you kidding me america? who cares if hes obese. you dont know his life and what made him like this. you need to understand america is obese and some pople it’s their fault and some it isnt. just shut up

Brianna on May 26, 2010 at 10:48 am

You people disgust me with your fat-bashing. I love all you “doctors” on here who blithely dismiss the possibility that obesity can by something other than a simple lack of willpower and activity. And of course, I value your opinions all–because, naturally, each and every one of you have advanced degrees in medicine to back up your ridiculous, arrogant, callous statements.

Do you really think that fat people just started being produced in the last 10 years? The only reason this issue is getting so much press these days is because with the advent of the 24-hour news cycle, issues like this are no longer considered taboo because the networks are desperate for more grist for the mill.

I place the blame for this issue squarely on the shoulders of the airlines. Ever since deregulation the airlines have made flying exponentially more miserable every year with byzantine policies and practices and draconian pricing structures, trying to wring every last nickel out of their hardware. It is because of these policies that even thin people are sitting on top of each other in coach as the airlines jam more and more seats into the cabin–as well as buying their own lunches, blankets, and pillows, and paying per checked item of luggage. It’s insane.

As a previous poster said, the price gulf between first class–where the seats are at least normally-sized–and coach is so wide that the average flier cannot possibly afford to pay the premium is an outdated, absurd throwback to the golden age of flying. I say rather than eliminating more creature comforts for -everyone- on the flight, eliminate first class -entirely- and make the seats more comfortable for -everyone.- Either that, or make more tiers between first-class and coach that more fliers can reasonably afford.

Another previous poster also opined that the airlines are so chicken-s*** afraid of lawsuits; it seems that they’re also averse to anything that doesn’t have to do with penalizing fliers in coach and coddling first-class passengers. Well, fine. Flying is such a horrific nightmare nowadays that you idiots can keep your ridiculously-narrow seat and inconveniences and strip-searches at security. I personally am taking Amtrak–where for a tenth of the cost you get a seat bigger than ANY first-class airline seat, no security nightmares, a breathtaking view of the country, and decent meals. And I can be as fat as I want and -nobody cares.-

MoreHumanThanHuman on July 4, 2010 at 4:28 pm

He had two seat-belt extensions and I sure the airline gave the poor guy next to him a free ticket for a slim flight! HAH…

ScottyMarine on July 23, 2010 at 6:16 pm

Sorry, but it is possible to have medical problems contribute to obesity. Take, for example, a 41 yr old white female who has had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome AND a history of degenerative disc disease that ended up requiring surgery AND a history of thyroid malignancy AND another history of Parotid Gland malignancy AND Rheumatoid arthritis. Before the medical horrorshow I described, she was heavy but not morbidly obese. At one point, she got down to five foot 3 and a curvaceous 140 lbs. But she’s having gastric bypass surgery in Novemeber. Sounds impossible? Yeah, it does, I’m sure. I’m an MD, and I’m describing my wife.

You do beautiful work on Islamic fascism and terror, Debbie, but walk a mile in another person’s shoes. When you grow old and get CHF or connective tissue disease, and your exercise tolerance falls through the floor while your metabolism goes haywire, you, too, may get fat.

Occam's Tool on September 16, 2010 at 8:24 pm

I’m glad that person is so overweight that its causing you to get in a massive flap, wah wah they are fat, I hate anyone different to me.
The aryan nation and third reich is alive on this blog.

WHB on June 3, 2011 at 8:23 pm

I am FAR more bothered by screaming babies frankly. I’m not going to join the lynch mob here.

skzion on January 1, 2012 at 1:19 pm