For everything that has a begining...

By Bob Toovey | 14 May 2010

A decade is a long time, very long in Internet time. That is how long this site has been online, how long I have been writing for it. But for everything that has a beginning, there is also an end. It has been a hard decision but it is now time for me to stop. Time for me to move on.

My efforts in to this site have been very rewarding, I have friends all over the world because of SizeNet. It has been a great adventure which I am glad to of been part of.

SizeNet will remain online for some time to come but there will be no further updates and commenting will soon be disabled. SizeNet ShowCase may be around for longer, plans have not been worked out yet for it's future.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to stop by, read and leave comments. Thanks to everyone who has contributed, emailed and supported this site.

So on to other projects, perhaps I will bump in to you again?

 

 

No slim people for US army: How this story was presented by the media

By Bob Toovey | 1 May 2010

Two dramatic headlines for the same story, US population deemed not slim enough to join the forces. The BBC has, 'US youngsters are too fat to fight, warn generals' and France 24 has, 'Fat Americans pose a threat to national security: generals'.

To be honest the story itself is fairly standard, obesity rates climbing and the no one seems to be slim enough to qualify or endure training and go on to ranks.

What is interesting is the approaches the two media organizations have taken. France 24 has used a picture that contains soldiers, fairly pertinent to the subject mater. However the BBC has gone with 'topless man with no head but has tape measure' type picture.

Why do media organizations seem to prefer headless people with large waists to accompany obesity related stories? It's about the armed forces, not anonymous fat people!

Help wanted: Are you fed up of clothes that don't fit?

By Bob Toovey | 30 April 2010

Allanah Brookes needs help, she is looking for women to appear in a 'in-house' only video with a view to creating a program to broadcast. If you have never been filmed before then this could be a good introduction.

We are looking for women of all ages for a new television project for a major UK broadcaster.

Does your size restrict your fashion choices?

Do you have to nurse crippled feet after a night out on the town?

Are you dreading an upcoming event where you will be the centre of attention?

We are looking for people who are open to taking an innovative new look at how they approach their wardrobe and are willing to talk openly about their clothes shopping frustrations.

In the first instance we will need one woman for an initial filming day on the 7th May in London for a couple of hours, however we are looking to build up a database of potential contributors.

Please could you email me at a.brookes@shed-media.com in the first instance with a couple of photographs of yourself, a short description about your relationship with clothes, a daytime telephone number and the most appropriate time to call.

Woman bites man - called her fat...

By Harold Wood | 29 April 2010

A woman took great offence at being called fat (take that as a warning guys)...

Police say a 24-year-old man is missing a chunk of his right ear that was bitten off by a woman who didn't like being called "fat." Police spokeswoman Katie Flood said officers were called to a Lincoln hospital around 3:25 a.m. Wednesday to talk to the injured man.

From Yahoo News, Police: Woman bites man after being called fat

Update on 'plastiK' the BBW movie

By Harold Wood | 20 April 2010

Thibault Guerin has been in touch to let me know that the video for 'PlastiK' the BBW movie is no longer available. However he has very kindlly provided another YouTube link to where you can watch it. So here it is again - thanks Thibault

Obesity and size acceptance in Dubai

By Bob Toovey | 15 April 2010

SizeNet has visitors from around the world, including the Arab states. We don't get to hear about obesity or size acceptance from that part of the world but we can offer some kind of insight from the work of Fatima Parker.

Fatima is the ISAA representative for the UK. She is also a broadcaster and Psychotherapist and splits her time between the UK and Dubai. She has her own YouTube channel for her videos which focus on obesity issues in the Arab states.

For those who can understand the language, hopefully it will give you some useful information.

Link to Fatima's YouTube channel.

 

US FDA warns against 'lipodissolve', the drug that makes fat vannish

By Bob Toovey | 13 April 2010

This press release was sent to me by Fatima Parker of the ISAA. It was published by the US FDA and contains warning about lipodissolve. A drug that will 'dissolve fat' in areas that it has been injected in. Seems there is no clinical proof to back up the claims.

Well done FDA, lets have more of this!

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued warning letters to six U.S. based medical spas and a company in Brazil for making false or misleading statements on their Web sites about drugs they claim will eliminate fat in a procedure called lipodissolve, or for otherwise misbranding lipodissolve products.

The U.S. companies involved have made claims that the drugs they use for their lipodissolve procedures are safe and effective; however, these products have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA for this use.

Lipodissolve is a procedure involving a series of drug injections intended to dissolve and permanently remove small pockets of fat from various parts of the body. It also is known as mesotherapy, lipozap, lipotherapy, or injection lipolysis. The most commonly injected drugs are phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate, usually in various combinations with one another.

In some cases, other ingredients, including drugs or components of other products such as vitamins, minerals, and herbal extracts are added to the mixture. The FDA is not aware of any credible scientific evidence that supports the effectiveness of any of these substances for fat elimination, and their safety when used alone or in combination is unknown.

The FDA is requesting a written response from the U.S. companies within 15 business days of receipt of the warning letters stating how they will correct these violations and prevent similar violations in the future. Each U.S. company has been informed in its warning letter that failure to promptly correct the violations may result in legal action.

Each of the companies involved has been cited for a variety of regulatory violations, including making unsupported claims that the products have an outstanding safety record and are superior to other fat loss procedures, including liposuction. Additionally some of the letters indicate that the companies have made claims that lipodissolve products can be used to treat certain medical conditions, such as male breast
enlargement, benign fatty growths known as lipomas, excess fat deposits and surgical deformities. The FDA is not aware of clinical evidence to support any of these claims.
"We are concerned that these companies are misleading consumers," said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research."It is important for anyone who is considering this voluntary procedure to understand that the products used to perform lipodissolve procedures are not approved by the FDA for fat removal.

The FDA has received reports of adverse effects in persons who have had the procedure using these drugs, including permanent scarring, skin deformation, and deep painful knots under the skin in areas where the lipodissolve products have been injected.

'Prejudice in plain sight', an essay from the New York Times

By Bob Toovey | 6 April 2010

The New York Times recently published, 'For Obese People, Prejudice in Plain Sight'. A short essay on the prejudice suffered by plus sized people.

Over the last few years, fat people have become scapegoats for all manner of cultural ills. "There's an atmosphere now where it's O.K. to blame everything on weight," said Dr. Linda Bacon, a nutrition researcher and the author of "Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight" (Benbella, 2008). "If we're worried about climate change, someone comes out with an article about how heavier people weigh more, so they require more fuel, and they blame the climate change crisis on fatter people. We have this strong belief system that it's their fault, that it's all about gluttony or lack of exercise."

It's just not the work place that the plus sized face prejudice, with Doctors still believing that your weight is entirely your fault many decide not to visit and avoid them totally.

Read the full article, For Obese People, Prejudice in Plain Sight

No link between over weight kids and adult heart problems

By Bob Toovey | 1 April 2010

The current belief is that overweight kids will grown up and suffer heart problems. It gets reported in the news and the Government uses it as propaganda. But it is not true. There is scientific proof...

The findings challenge the widely accepted view that the presence of childhood obesity is an independent risk factor for CVD and that this period should be a priority for public health intervention. Although interventions during childhood may be important in prevention of adult obesity, it is important to avoid the potential for negative consequences when the timing coincides with critical stages of neurological, behavioural and physical development.

This is from a recent study, Childhood obesity and adult cardiovascular disease risk: a systematic review. If you read the summary there are problem associated with blood pressure. But no real link between overweight children and adult heart problems.

Importantly, the study states that intervention should not happen between critical stages of neurological, behavioural and physical development or as we might say (I guess) puberty.

Being skinny is no protection against heart problems

By Bob Toovey | 31 March 2010

Being skinny offer no advantage when it comes to dying from cardiac causes. A recent study presented at the American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session showed that the risks are not as was previous thought...

According to the authors, non-obese heart failure patients ¨including overweight, normal and underweight patients ¨had a 76 percent increase in risk of sudden cardiac death compared to obese heart failure patients. Normal and underweight patients showed a startling 99 percent increase in risk for sudden cardiac death compared to obese patients.

Risk of sudden cardiac death was studied in 1,231 patients who had suffered at least one prior heart attack and had been diagnosed with a low ejection fraction, a measurement of how much blood is pumped from the heart with each beat. The analysis found that decreased BMI or body mass index was associated with a large increase in the risk of sudden cardiac death.

More from Scientific Blogging...

Thanks to Fatima Parker for the info.

 

Press Release: New Fashion Design Scholarship from NAAFA

By Bob Toovey | 30 March 2010

NAAFA are now offering a new Scholarship to promote plus size fashion. Aimed at fashion design students, the award will be announced at their convention at the Westin San Francisco Hotel in Millbrae, California on August 5-9, 2010.

Oakland, CA - In the hopes of encouraging fashion design students to focus their efforts on designing clothing for the plus size figure, NAAFA is offering a new Plus-Size Fashion Design Scholarship to be awarded at their 2010 Convention being held at the Westin San Francisco Hotel in Millbrae, California, August 5-9, 2010.

Students currently enrolled in an accredited Fashion Design School are eligible to apply for the NAAFA Plus-Size Fashion Design Scholarship. Designers interested in being considered for this scholarship can find complete details and an application at: http://www.naafaonline.com/convention2010/schedule/scholarship.html

Application deadline is June 1, 2010.

Founded in 1969, NAAFA is a non-profit civil rights organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through public education, advocacy, and member support.

On the web: http://www.naafa.org

For more information contact:

Peggy Howell, Public Relations Director, NAAFA

email: naafa_pr@yahoo.com phone: (707)246-6116

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