Fit Villains: Selfish, Shameless, Sassy, Fitness.

This makes me sad. Sad, angry and disturbed enough to punch things.

I’ve got my opinions and I want to be very clear before I start that I do not think that being overweight makes you a bad parent. Hands down. Issues pertaining to the weight aside, in and of itself it has no bearing on your skills as a parent. We all do the best we can.

Disclaimer done. Now for my angry bit. I first heard this story awhile back, but haven’t been able to clarify my thoughts before. Read & share your thoughts on this story. (see video after the jump)

Donna Simpson is a lady & mom based out of New Jersey. She is on a mission to be fat. No, not a little chubby. Not even obese. I mean really, really huge. Her goal is to weigh one ton (1000lbs) and as far as she’s concerned, the bigger the better.

She became the heaviest woman to ever give birth in 2007 (requiring a team of 30 doctors) and decided to embark on journey to one ton. She maintained a website where people could subscribe to see photos and video of her eating, including video of her being force fed. The website also funded her weekly food budget (I believe it’s been since taken down). She’s seemingly doesn’t have any image issues with her body, except that it could be bigger. She has been diagnosed with diabetes & high blood pressure, and claims she is gaining weight the “healthy”way, despite having to lie to her doctor about her goal (although he’s bound to have read something by now) and eating 6 times the recommended daily calories for most people.

She consumes 12,000 calories a day and claims being big makes her happy. She is supported & encouraged by her husband, who loves her weight gain, deeming it “sexy”. Although they share some household duties, he is the one who is able to get physically involved with their daughter, as Donna’s size limits her ability to be able to play or care for her daughter’s every need. She cannot walk more than 20 feet at her current weight without sitting down. She claims she feels no guilt, because anything she can’t do with her daughter, her father can. She also claims that she doesn’t want her 3 year old daughter to be fat also, citing that she feeds her daughter nutritious foods.

Her daughter is not overweight.

It’s insane to me that anyone would start a mission to weigh over 1000lbs. Beyond insane. But, as you know, I’m of the belief that people should be who they want to be. How Donna wants to live her life is up to her. Let your freak flag fly.

However…

YOU HAVE A KID! A child that watches her mother eat 12,000 calories a day on purpose. A child who’s odds of being obese herself are sky-high due to genetics AND her nurturing. A daughter who is watching her mother get closer & closer to killing herself every single day. A daughter who’s mother is sacrificing & putting herself (and thus her daughter) at risk of disease, orphanism & neglect. A daughter who’s mom can’t play with her, or help her if she needs assistance quickly. A daughter who’s mom is already sick with diabetes and who won’t be able to fit in an ambulance once she reaches her goal.

I can’t imagine why a mother would do this. I can’t imagine how she could ignore the very real consequences of her actions so carelessly.

Obesity & food addiction are very real, and very dangerous diseases. Millions of people fight to overcome them, and many lose their battles (and lives) each year. Aside from being dangerous from a personal perspective, people who lose their battle often leave behind families and people who love them.

I’m a momma. Not literally, just by nature/personality. I can’t have children of my own (another post for another day), but when it comes to kids I have a fierce, protective side that takes hold when I hear stories like this. Especially when I know so many parents who struggle with losing weight because they want to do it FOR their children.

Donna wouldn’t be the first to put herself in danger for profit or notoritey. Ask any adrenaline junkie. But when kids are involved. I mean, really? Some goals are not worth the consequences. This juice isn’t worth the squeeze.

I’d throw myself in front of a bus for my children. Hell, I’d throw myself in front of a bus for anyone’s children. I can’t imagine what she’s thinking. It boggles my mind and makes me worried for everyone involved.

No one’s perfect, but most would agree that parents should do the best they  can in the circumstances they are given. Making mistakes is part of that. But this is NOT the best that someone can do. Being overweight & struggling to be healthier is one thing. Aiming to be as unhealthy as possible? That’s quite another. Doing it with a child involved? Well that borders on neglect in my opinion.

It’s a touchy subject. What are your thoughts?

(In similar news? A 25-year-old Romanian woman, weighing 528 pounds,  gave birth to a baby girl last year. She died, 5 months after giving birth from a heart attack after developing a high fever and breathing problems.)