PASSIVE OBESITY

Obesity, like smoking, is known to be bad for health, but at least people don't get ill from other's obesity, unlike the case with passive smoking, or so we'd like to believe. While there's no such recognised disease as 'passive obesity', and you are unlikely to put on weight by being near an obese person (unless you start to eat their French Fries, chocolate cake, packet of crisps, bag of peanuts, stack of sandwiches, ice cream, doughnuts, baguettes, or dive in to the packets of sweets or super-giant-sized-diet-coke filling their rucksack, claiming to be little more than an afternoon snack), problems of obesity are not confined to those who suffer from the disorder.

Fat may have been a feminist issue, but it is now one which affects not just those who are obese, but those who have to travel with such people. In the 'dog eat dog' world of commercial capitalism, the drive is on, as it always has been, to reap maximum profits from minimum outlay, and the effects can be seen far and wide. Nowhere more so than by passengers who have to travel with the world's airlines as they find their seats becoming narrower and narrower, and leg room being reduced to a bare minimum. It is no surprise that more passengers are complaining about discomfort while flying, and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) appears to be becoming more prevalent.

Imagine then how Barbara Hewson felt, when shoe-horned into her Virgin Atlantic, Economy Class seat, only to find that she's been allocated a place next to the most obese woman she will remember for a long time. Many people have trouble with airline seats, but Mrs Hewson's co-passenger was only able to fit into her seat by raising the arm rest, with the result that Mrs Hewson ended up jammed in her seat, with body parts pressed down upon her. The freelance writer from Swansea, South Wales, complained to the cabin crew before the flight took off, but was told the flight was full, and there were no other seats available, a typical 'Not Fucking Interested', response from airlines which many passengers complain of.

Stuck on an 11 hour flight to Los Angeles, Mrs Hewson must have had the tolerance of a Saint as she suffered from being squashed by her co-passenger. I don't know why she didn't lock herself in the toilet, and leave the crew to sort the seating problem out, sit in the aisle, or take the opportunity of using the easy way out, leaving the plane while at 30,000 feet, but she didn't. Mrs Hewson's suffering during the flight was not to be the end of the matter; this was not a flight which she was going to laugh off down the local pub, amusing her friends while recounting tales that, "You should have seen the size of the fat bastard sat next to me".

Mrs Hewson, who has described the flight as, 'horrific', had to be rushed to hospital when the plane touched down, and was bed-ridden for a month. She suffered many injuries from her ordeal, including a blood clot in her chest, torn muscles, acute sciatica, and has been in continuing pain during the two years since the incident. Mrs Hewson is still in pain, and walks with the aid of a stick. As would be expected, Mrs Hewson complained to Virgin Atlantic, and I am sure that the staff pissed themselves with laughter at the tale of someone being crushed by a fellow passenger because they were so large. Virgin were so concerned for Mrs Hewson after her ordeal that they reportedly offered her a small basket of goods worth £15 by way of compensation.

Mrs Hewson, having been seriously injured and still in pain, turned down the less than generous offer, and continued to push for proper compensation. Two years after being abused, and after an 18 month battle with Virgin to have her claim taken seriously, numerous examinations by medical doctors appointed by Virgin, have finally convinced the airline that she has a valid claim, and Virgin have belatedly offered compensation of £13,000, which Mrs Hewson has accepted. Hardly great compensation for a two year battle, constant pain, and the inability to walk unaided, but at least Virgin have admitted they were responsible, and have finally given a proper apology.

Of course, it wasn't really Virgin's fault, but a peculiar set of circumstances which caused the problems. Obese people, who prefer not to be called 'Fat' (and there are medical difference in the definition of disorders; 'Overweight' is generally what most people think it means, 'Obese' is being overweight by a long shot, and 'Morbid' or 'Malignant obesity' is identifiable by not having anyone happy to sit next to you in tight confines), say that problems arising from their weight are not caused by them. It is true that the world is not suited to those with a large frame, whether due to their genetic disposition, or because they quite simply eat too much.

There has been a steady increase in cases of obesity (usually defined as being up to 20% above the ideal body weight) over recent years. Over 20% of the UK population is clinically obese according to National Audit Office figures, while obesity affects nearly 60% of Americans. Morbid obesity is the most serious form of obesity. Defined as being 100 or more pounds (45 Kg) overweight, over 9 million Americans meet that criteria. If airlines continue to push people into smaller and smaller seats, and the population continues to put on weight, it will not be long before the planes can't take off the ground. (Source: The Happy Hippy)