Why are there no overweight or obese people in Star Trek?

[ReadyAndWilling]

So I was walking through the brand new local shopping mall earlier today and couldn't believe what I saw. There were just so many obese people. I knew at the time that as soon as I arrived home I would rush to my computer and discuss it on TrekBBS. Anyway, I began to create a tally in my mind of how many obese people I witnessed walking through the mall. The grand total came to 76. Granted, I may have lost count at some point, but this just amazes me.

Society seems to have two ends of the spectrum in how people treat the obese. On one end you have the obnoxious, who ridicule them and are just down right cruel. Then, on the other side you have those that embrace obesity as some new fashion trend for the 21st century. I even saw someone wearing a T-Shirt that said 'Fat is beautiful' in a bold typeface. Personally, I feel sorry for those who are obese and believe we should be working toward a way to treat their condition. I think compassion is the right course to plot.

Only a few decades ago was obesity a rarity, but as I witnessed with my own eyes today, it is becoming the 'norm'. I can't help but wonder how many obese people will exist in a few centuries.

Has this topic ever been brought up on Star Trek?

 

[Paradon]

Maybe the replicators can create the perfect meal...but I don't know how good that would taste, though. That seems to be the idea on DS9 and ST. No offense. Just like anythings, I don't think you can cheat science. You have to put enough resources, effort and using the right science to make something that is worth making. Is like you have put more power into a ship if you want it to travel faster than light. Food on DS9 tastes like crap.... It seems like some replicator can create better food and it's harder to come by. That's why everybody flocks to Quark's. If it doesn't taste good, it's probably not that nutritious. Our tongue has been programed to recognize like food that is nutritious, so that we develop a taste for it, so we can eat more of it. If you can fool the senses, that's what junk food is all about. Which means everybody on DS9 are malnourished.... [laugh] I mean if we can make junk food tastes GREAT in this century, why can't they make food taste great with all the 24th century's advanced-high-tech food replicators. IT'S NOT THAT HARD! [laugh] It's not like making a holodeck or an android.... The starships can even think a little.

 

[Mr Silver]

Anyway, I began to create a tally in my mind of how many obese people I witnessed walking through the mall. The grand total came to 76. Granted, I may have lost count at some point, but this just amazes me.

I think you have way too much time on your hands, care to post pictures of yourself? So people you've classed as "Overweight and Obese" might start a tally with people who share your "unsightly" characteristics?

Society seems to have two ends of the spectrum in how people treat the obese. On one end you have the obnoxious, who ridicule them and are just down right cruel. Then, on the other side you have those that embrace obesity as some new fashion trend for the 21st century. I even saw someone wearing a T-Shirt that said 'Fat is beautiful' in a bold typeface.

So people who are overweight can't be "Beautiful" is that what your saying? Its not a fashion trend, its just people displaying something they stand by, obviously the person in question thinks people who are considered "Fat" are still attractive

Personally, I feel sorry for those who are obese and believe we should be working toward a way to treat their condition. I think compassion is the right course to plot.

Ok..people who are Overweight/Obese and unfit, might want to think about their overall health and activeness, but who are you to tell someone what to do? Its the individuals choice if they want to sit around, get bigger and not do anything active, not yours and also, there are many people who are "technically" overweight (BMI Calculator) who are in good physical health, look at World's Strongest contests, the majority of contestants are Overweight in that competition because by bulking up they have more room spread their muscle development

Only a few decades ago was obesity a rarity, but as I witnessed with my own eyes today, it is becoming the 'norm'. I can't help but wonder how many obese people will exist in a few centuries.

Theres a bigger rate of "Weight Problems" nowadays, mainly because of Fast Food and the fact Technology such as Computers allow people to amuse themselves without excerting much energy

Has this topic ever been brought up on Star Trek?

No, but several characters aren't exactly "Prime Physical Specimens", Scotty (Post TOS), Kirk (TUC onwards), Commander Riker (Late TNG), Harry Mudd (TOS), Miles O'Brien (DS9) are among just a few

I'm sorry if I may have come across a bit harsh, but I find the way you worded things to be slightly offensive, treating people as if "We need to take care of them" is completely out of order, it makes Adults sound like Children, I also dislike the stigma thats associated with "Looks", I don't place emphasis on looks when I find someone attractive, quite frankly, I think women with a curvy figure are insanely beautiful compared to stick-thin catwalk models with a constant look of displeasure on their face, however your entitled to your opinion and I respect that, but so am I and i'm sure a lot of other people will back me up, particulary those who have weight issues themselves...

 

[The Wormhole]

Because everyone in Star Trek wears one-piece spandex outfits, which aren't too flattering on obese people.

And since I am obese, I'm allowed to say that.

 

[RandyS]

The real reason is there are no obese people in Hollywood.

And I'm not obese, but I get to say that anyway, because this is America. Screw this constant PC shit.

 

[MANT!]

Why...... I differ with the supposition of the Original Post..

And so does Cyrano Jones....

 

[6079SmithW]

Starfleet is a quasi-military organization so I'm sure there are physical fitness requirements and mandatory PT regiments to adhere to.

 

[C.E. Evans]

You just don't see that many obese people in Starfleet, but they're out there all right. Heck, probably some senior admirals could stand to lose a few pounds sitting behind desks all the time...

Then it's also possible that people in the Federation generally live mostly healthy life-styles (a sickening thought, IMO), so obesity may not be as outrageously widespread as it is currently too...

 

[JarodRussell]

By the 24th century, they found a cure for obesity.

 

[Gaith]

Why are there no overweight or obese people in Star Trek?

For the same reason why there are no/very, very few gays.

:ducks:

 

[scotpens]

As mentioned upthread, you have to work out and stay in shape to look good in a skin-tight uniform!

Our tongue has been programed to recognize like food that is nutritious, so that we develop a taste for it, so we can eat more of it.

Actually our brains are programmed to like fats and sweets, because we need to consume carbohydrates for energy and to store body fat for times when food is scarce. Food has been plentiful and easily available in the industrialized world only in recent times, while our appetites are still adapted for Ice Age hunter-gatherers.

. . . So people who are overweight can't be "Beautiful" is that what your saying? Its not a fashion trend, its just people displaying something they stand by, obviously the person in question thinks people who are considered "Fat" are still attractive.

Regardless of whether you think a fat person is physically attractive or not, the fact remains that obesity is a pathological condition.

. . . there are many people who are "technically" overweight (BMI Calculator) who are in good physical health, look at World's Strongest contests, the majority of contestants are Overweight in that competition because by bulking up they have more room spread their muscle development.

Obviously, we're not talking about Olympic weightlifters here. They may be technically overweight, but that's all solid muscle.

..... I differ with the supposition of the Original Post..

And so does Cyrano Jones....

It's okay for a comic character to be fat, because FAT is FUNNY!

By the 24th century, they found a cure for obesity.

But not for baldness, apparently.

 

[PianoWizzy]

As mentioned upthread, you have to work out and stay in shape to look good in a skin-tight uniform!

Exactly what I was going to reply with. After all, the majority [or all, if you will] of Star Trek is revolving around Starfleet. Starfleet, not only carrying risks, but also being a half-military, half-exploration organization, is sure to have some standards on who is physically fit to take on the assignments that they'd send out.

By the 24th century, they found a cure for obesity.

But not for baldness, apparently.

That's another thing I was thinking but 2 things:
a) Gene Roddenberry himself said that by the 24th century, people aught to stop caring about menial things like that.
b) What makes this different from obesity is how it might affect one's performance in Starfleet. Baldness wasn't in the way of any practical matters, so they felt no need to correct that sort of problem. On the other hand, those who are obese have difficulty with certain physical tasks, and have certain health needs, which is why by that time, they probably found ways to cure obesity. Of course, there are some obese people in Star Trek, there's just not a lot of them.

 

[JarodRussell]

Obesity isn't healthy. Baldness makes no fucking difference whatsoever.

People in the 24th century are probably more intelligent than to stuff themselves with fast food until they explode.
And for those who are suffering from obesity because of genetic reasons, there's probably a pill for that.

For the same reason we haven't seen people suffering from down syndrome and other disabilities. Or diabetics. Cancer. Aids. The common cold. Even headaches for crying out loud! They don't exist in the 24th century.

 

[Paradon]

I guess people in the 24th practice some kind of Vulcan mind meld, so they can control themselves better. This way they won't run to the nearest McDonald's, if they are still around. Didn't the Spock said, in the end, ignoring emotions and feelings is illogical? [chuckle] I guess that's why they named the Romulans after Romulus, which, according the Romans, is their ancestor.

 

[C.E. Evans]

There's no junk food in the 24th-Century. After Taco Bell won the Fast Food Wars[highlight]*[/highlight] a few centuries earlier, it was pretty much all over...

 

[JarodRussell]

Salt is not good for you, hence it is illegal.

 

[PianoWizzy]

Obesity isn't healthy. Baldness makes no fucking difference whatsoever.

That's another way of putting it.

Salt is not good for you, hence it is illegal.

Well, actually, salt does have some health benefits. It's the excess of sodium that's the bad stuff.

 

[kkozoriz1]

Salt is not good for you, hence it is illegal.

It's salt vampires that aren't good for you.

 

[I am Surak]

In case anybody needs a refresher on how nice slender people look follow this link.

http://www.cbs.com/specials/victorias_secret/

Best viewed with the volume turned up and a Gin Tonic on ice close by.....

Obesity like cancer is a disease. There is no sugar coating it as curvy being attractive.
If the OP saw 76 obese people waddling around that means that there are another 100 who do not even leave the house. Many by choice and some because they can't anymore. Obesity is the aids of the new millennium.

 

[Paradon]

Hmmm.... It is also true in the Trek Universe that people in the future seem to loose all sense of humor. That's very scary IMO!