A British couple wanted to move to New Zealand after their wedding. They ran into one small problem, or actually it was one large problem. New Zealand told them they are too fat to immigrate to their country.
Robyn Toomath, a spokesman for New Zealand's Fight the Obesity Epidemic, said, "The immigration department can't afford to import people who are going to be a significant drain on our health resources ... You can see the logic in assessing if there is a significant health cost associated with this individual and that would be a reason for them not coming in."
No, I can't see that logic. Because under that rationale you would also ban people who smoke and sky dive and have unprotected sex. Are they going to be checking to see if people are using condoms during intercourse before they let them move to New Zealand? And how would they do that check exactly?
In the case of weight, they actually use Body Mass Index that compares your weight to your height and sees if you are within the prescribed limits or not. So, they physically weigh these people and tell them if they're too fat to live in the country. That's sick.
Meddling in people's private lives started with messing with smokers. I worried at the time that it would spread to other areas of our private lives where we made decisions that our companies or governments or insurers disapproved of. And now it has. This is a terrible trend and we have to make sure it's contained. So, I propose banning New Zealanders from coming here and spreading their discriminatory policies to us.
Finally, there is good news and bad news from the British couple trying to move to New Zealand. The groom lost two inches off his waistline and he has passed the health requirements. But unfortunately, his wife still hasn't made it. So she is stuck in England, still dieting.
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New Zealand Bans Woman for Being Too Fat
Posted Nov 20th 2007 10:08AM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: World News, Young Turks, Strange
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 9)
1. My guess is that she could appeal if she had some marketable skills that would help the economy there. If she was just going to go on welfare... then guess what... we wouldn't let her in either.
Besides Cenk... you just feel her pain because you're a fat butt too.
RMWiersema at 10:57AM on Nov 20th 2007
2. Since WHEN does New Zealand have the right to be the "Fat Police"? The majority of the population is overweight, what they NEED to ban is acohol sales, since so many there are alcoholics and women beaters! Women are treated like crap there, so it's no surprise about anything that goes on in that violent country!
sandra ramos at 11:11AM on Nov 20th 2007
3. Well I had considered New Zealand for my reitrement destination, taking my retirement savings of 7 figures with me, but I guess they wouldnt want me either. Oh well, their loss. There are many places closer to home that actively WANT American retirees, regardless of their waist size.
Heidi at 11:28AM on Nov 20th 2007
4. So what about the single men in New Zealand? Who are they gonna corral home after a long night of drinking? If theres no fat chicks, who will have sex with the ugly and poor men. Will the chubby chasers move to the U.S.? What will New Zealand do when not a single house wife will know how to cook because the only thing they eat is granola bars? I believe it is very dangerous to mess with fat people and their rights. They might just sit on you New Zealand!
Johnny A at 12:07PM on Nov 20th 2007
5. Ahem, Cenk, sorry. I abhor rudeness and discrimination to obese people, but in this situation, I understand New Zealand's position. They have the right to admit whomever they feel will benefit the country (economy). New Zealand, as I understand it, has nationalized medicine. Whyever would they allow in new residents when it can be clearly seen that they will run up very high medical bills, probably far outstripping any taxes they might pay. No doubt New Zealand has enough obese citizens of its own, without importing them. ANOTHER INCONVENIENT TRUTH: obesity is unhealthy and costs big bucks in medical bills. Forgive me, no insult is intended, but...
normanoel at 12:27PM on Nov 20th 2007
6. ""New Zealand told them they are too fat to immigrate to their country.""
Hey, I don't know about you big guy, but I guess I won't be going to New Zealand. I love fat women...heat in the winter; shade in the summer type of thing.
I keep telling Mrs. Willet this, but she continues to eyeball her weight much like a BIG woman eyeballs a Thanksgiving turkey.
Willet at 12:38PM on Nov 20th 2007
7. What's this about fat peoples' "rights" and New Zealand being "the fat police"? Did I sleep though the bit about the Obese Person's Bill of Rights in High School Civics? Funny, I thought obese people had precisely the same "rights" (or not) as everyone else in America. Newsflash: New Zealand is NOT America; whatever special "rights" you believe obese people enjoy in America (the right to double seating, double on-flight meals, or??), this has nothing to do with New Zealand. Clue: if you have to ask or assert a "right," then it probably doesn't exist. You're thinking about special treatment, it seems.
normanoel at 3:38PM on Nov 20th 2007
8. I have the opposite "weight issue". When I get stressed, I have a very hard time eating..just not hungry and I end up losing some weight. I've always been small, I hate sweets and I normally eat small portions throughout the day, but can't gain the weight. My prob is that everybody, not just family but total strangers make snide and rude comments or "kindly" advise me to "put some meat on my bones." I do smoke..I know, bad me, but I think I know where I'm going to move now. I can smoke and drink my beer and eat and be thin w/o the non-stop "help" from others.
Shan322 at 2:09PM on Nov 20th 2007
9. Let me comment in on this one.... I am a 300 pound individual who DOES NOT drive up the costs of healthcare. I am not on any maintenance drugs and use the naturopathic approach to my healthcare. My employer's health insurance definately charges me more per year than what they pay out for me.
It's not the weight of someone that is causing medical bills to skyrocket, it's the money hungry pharmaceuticals with their poorly tested drugs that are doing everyone a dis-service. These magnates don't want to cure you, then you wouldn't be spending money. They want to suppress the symptoms and keep you coming back, month after month, to buy more drugs.
Doctors prescribe pills that have side effects that can present more serious complications that the ailment they are treating. Doctors continue to treat the symptoms and not the source of the problem. Case in point: A co-worker's young daughter was having breathing problems at the age of 4. She was on steroids and inhalers and one other drug. When her mother asked the Doctor the reason for her daughter's ailment, the Doctor said don't worry, we have it under control with drug. She persisted, and after much agruing he agreed to do allergy testing. The child was allergic to preocessed whey. Mom now scrutinizes all she eats, and a year later the child is symptom free and free from taking drugs.
I think each of us needs to take responsibility for our own health. We need to correct the core issues that are disolving our good health.
As for my weight, I can thank my former doctor for prescribing a drug that packed this weight on. It sent my system way out of whack and now, several years later, I am finally losing the weight because I have corrected the problems that drug caused. Never again will I accept that I must take something without knowing full well the consequences. (To this day the Doc says it wasn't the drug that caused the wieght gain, but he can't explain why I gained so much weight after starting to take it.)
casual observer at 3:18AM on Nov 21st 2007
10. Why would anyone care about New Zealand? The only thing they ever gave the world was more sheep.
! at 2:48PM on Nov 20th 2007
11. Can you see what the Government is doing? They are becoming a dictatorship.........banning personal traits. I smoke about 4 cigarettes a day. If I light a cigarette while waiting "OUTSIDE" for the bus, you have to see the looks I get, people pulling their scarves over their faces, etc. AND I am overweight, so, I guess I will eventually be thrown out of the Country. How can we call this a Democracy?
Proud to sign my name,
Mary Rizzo, Howard Beach, N.Y.
Mary at 2:57PM on Nov 20th 2007
12. Actually, this makes perfect sense.
Socialized healthcare systems require rationing. TANSTAAFL.
Knight_of_BAAWA at 4:14PM on Nov 20th 2007
13. Let me clarify, as I do not wish to offend, Casual Observer. Yes, in my experience, allopathic physicians can exacerbate health problems with their drug-based "therapies." I, too, have gained SOME weight from a prescribed medication--but definitely not over 100 lbs. worth (assuming your chart weight is in the area of 200). So be honest with yourself, my friend, and admit an unhealthy fondness for food. The statistics on weight-related health problems are quite compelling, but fortunately, there is a totally natural cure--cut back on the food. Few people (unfortunately) choose to go the natural route; why should immigrants to New Zealand be any different? So my comment about driving up healthcare costs stands, with applause to you for exploring alternatives. (Let me emphasize that this is NOT a moral or even esthetic judgment, as I actually prefer a more "solid" appearance; nor is any slim person entitled in any sense to feel superior. It's just that obesity is unhealthy and costly--It is what it is.
normanoel at 4:15PM on Nov 20th 2007
14. New Zealand has a point. Obese people run more health risks and do drain the Medical system. Obesity sends out a message that you don't care enough about yourself to stay healthy so why should think New Zealand should solve your problems.
I do feel that if they do not want fat people that they should also consider deporting anyone who smokes, drinks or does drugs (and any people who may have become fat from being citizens), Oh and lets not forget mentally ill people as well. If New Zealand con honestly prove they have no people like this in their country then I won't call them full of BS.
E at 4:29PM on Nov 20th 2007
15. E, you're missing the fact that a sovereign nation has the right to determine who will be admitted as a resident/potential citizen. The fact that New Zealand already has its own obese (or smoking or drugging) populace makes their desire to preclude more of the same even more understandable. And one doesn't "deport" someone who is already a citizen. We're talking about someone who wants to "get in through the door" (which apparently isn't wide enough for her). If you are American, please review your own country's lengthy list of immigration exclusions, many of which pertain to health. These have been in place since the days of the European migrations through Ellis Island.
normanoel at 4:48PM on Nov 20th 2007