I was vegetarian for three years. I stopped when I realized I wasn't getting any healthier or smaller.

This really goes for the immorality of being fat alongside the immorality of eating animals.

YDI, fatty!

Fritos, jolly ranchers, french fries, onion rings, grape soda, potato chips, twizzlers... I've got my vegan diet all laid out!

I've gained twenty pounds since going vegetarian. No joke. AND, I feel much, much better on my vegetarian diet, and have a better love life than I've ever had in my life.

So, to reiterate: being vegetarian doesn't make you thin, and being heavy doesn't make you unhealthy or undesirable.

Basically, everything about that ad is wrong!

Slim babes increase beer sales, not awareness, but fatties make everyone laugh.

Well at least PETA seem to have understood that humor goes a long way...

Is this really sexist (rhetorical)? Why would they choose a fat woman over a fat man? Maybe because fat, unhealthy food (bacon, etc) is perceived as manly and they don't have the budget to fight an uphill battle.

Anyway, compared to what they've done in the past, that's a small improvement.

tom, I'd argue that PETA is using women in this ad for the same reason they use women in all of their advertising: a combination of thoughtless reproduction of existing images, and the desire to incite controversy.

I wouldn't say that fatty or "unhealthy" food is perceived as masculine - Sweets of all sorts, for example, aren't necessarily coded as manly, nor are many sodas.

Speaking as a (rather plump) vegan, I'd just like to say that for the past few years, PETA has sunk to depths that would be comical if not for the fact that they are the group most associated with animals rights by the general public. They're ridiculous, offensive, and any productive, positive things they might be doing are completely overwhelmed by their douchebaggery.

PETA confuses the hell out of me, it's almost like they don't want people to be vegetarian/vegan. I don't think the "no publicity is bad publicity" mantra quite works when you want people to join your cause and identify with your ideology. Don't they even think they might just be polarizing people with such ridiculous ads and demonstrations? They seem to have completely missed the line between getting attention and pissing people off for no real reason.

And they should know that health really isn't really a great reason to be vegetarian/vegan. You can be perfectly healthy while eating meat, if you really don't care about killing animals to eat them then there's no reason to become vegetarian/vegan, or at least no reason to stick to it. False advertising like that only gives fuel to people who oppose PETA and/or animal rights.

People have to try to be vegetarian/vegan despite PETA now, it's terrible. I honestly might have tried becoming vegetarian earlier if it wasn't for PETA and the negative stigma they seem to actually further rather than diminish. Vegan Outreach seems like a much better organization (though I admittedly don't know a great deal about them). If only they had PETA's bankroll.

PETA: People Encouraging Teen Anorexics
A couple months ago I wrote an in-depth piece on the fat-shaming campaigns of PETA and the Skinny Bitch franchise, and how these groups actually encourage anorexia and bulimia rather than healthy minds and bodies which would prevent people from searching for alternative diet fads other than vegetarianism.

there's also something vaguely sickening about PETA being an entity that, essentially, claims to be on a 'moral' crusade of sorts -- a moral crusade so intense that they totally neglect all other morals, consideration, issues, science, logic.... if, in theory, the organization is so obsessed with the 'ethics' of animals and on being careful and respectful of animals, why is it that humans (and women, over and over and over again) are apparently exempt from being treated with respect, care, and empathy?

furthermore we often find that vegetarianism/veganism is co-incidential with being 'liberal' or 'progressive' (i would venture a higher percentage of readers of this blog are non-meat-eaters than in the general population) and yet PETA seems intent on beating to death the concept that a person might make choices about their food based on critical thought and prefer to rely entirely on these cheap mass-media 'scare tactics.' this billboard's reductive thinking and reliance on hot topics (OMG OBESITY!) is the equivalent of sarah palin facebook blogging about obama killing her baby.

i do not eat meat and prefer to buy most of my produce from farmer's markets etc for both personal reasons (also, for me, it's convenient and readily available and i love cooking fresh food) and all those complicated reasons why we do things we see as "good", and it drives me INSANE that i find myself, over and over again, explaining to people that no, i don't eat meat, but i'm not, like, an asshole and, like, i'm not going to make comments about you eating a steak unless we enter into some dialogue about it to begin with. i do not even refer to myself as 'vegetarian' because i find this process so exhausting. it's not my identity and i think PETA here also introduces a strange level of identity politics into the mess by toting veganism as something which 'makes you a better person' and 'makes you skinny' and 'makes you happy' and therefore is something that is an inherent part of who you are and makes you 'better'. but much like 'queer,' i don't see 'vegetarian' as explicity an issue of identity politics - and it frustrates me to no end that by being, quite frankly, idiots, PETA turn this into an identity issue, and through their extremism makes it an issue for which i can be criticized. PETA - deliberately? accidentally but blinded by their own 'message' which in itself is an interesting example of group mentality? - aligns a vegan/vegetarian 'identity' with misogyny and extremism, and, for the love of god, i just don't $!@%ing like pork.

Actually, during the two years I decided to eat vegetarian in college (The food at my expensive, Ivy League school was lousy; I was curious to see how long I'd last.), I did lose a few pounds and went down to 88 pounds (I wasn't that heavy to begin with). I wasn't strictly trying to lose weight, either. I have to assume that they're assuming that the individual is following an intelligent vegetarian diet, which, if you don't overload on the nuts, cheese and fried foods probably will result in weight losss.

The ad is outrageous. How dare PETA assume such a self-righteous attitude? Thanks for making me sympathize with Anna Wintour.

Sorry folks. But being a vegetarian does correlate with a lower BMI. For those that don't believe on it, please see the reference below:

Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Jun;81(6):1267-74

Risk of overweight and obesity among semivegetarian, lactovegetarian, and vegan women.

Newby PK, Tucker KL, Wolk A.
Jean Mayer US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA. pknewby@post.harvard.edu
BACKGROUND: Observational studies suggest that a plant-based diet is inversely related to body mass index (BMI), overweight, and obesity. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to examine the BMI (kg/m(2)) and risk of overweight and obesity of self-defined semivegetarian, lactovegetarian, and vegan women. DESIGN: Data analyzed in this cross-sectional study were from 55459 healthy women participating in the Swedish Mammography Cohort. Women were asked whether they considered themselves to be omnivores (n = 54257), semivegetarians (n = 960), lactovegetarians (n = 159), or vegans (n = 83), and this question was the main exposure variable in this study. In secondary analyses, we reclassified women as lactovegetarians on the basis of food intakes reported on the food-frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight or obesity (BMI >/= 25) was 40% among omnivores, 29% among both semivegetarians and vegans, and 25% among lactovegetarians. In multivariate, adjusted logistic regression analyses, self-identified vegans had a significantly lower risk of overweight or obesity [odds ratio (OR) = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.18, 0.69] than did omnivores, as did lactovegetarians (OR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.35, 0.85) and semivegetarians (OR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.43, 0.62). Risk of overweight or obesity remained significantly lower among lactovegetarians classified on the basis of the food-frequency questionnaire (OR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.30, 0.78). CONCLUSIONS: Even if vegetarians consume some animal products, our results suggest that self-identified semivegetarian, lactovegetarian, and vegan women have a lower risk of overweight and obesity than do omnivorous women. The advice to consume more plant foods and less animal products may help individuals control their weight.

The first ad is breathtaking in that it's just so unnecessary and done. Oh his noodly appendage, it has been done unto death! But the thing I can't quite get over is that second ad, having seen the first. Stupid, whimsical, ever-hopeful me... I fully expected the "version about men" to be exactly the same, but with a fat male model. So much so that I looked right at the second ad and didn't understand that it was the "version about men" for several seconds.

Why isn't it the same?
Is it for men, or just about men?
And why did they use Lypsinka?? I really don't get that part. Who is the intended audience? (In another context, I might say gay men, but after the first ad, I'm not so sure. It's hard to figure out what stereotypes they're working with!)

Awesome ad - at least someone has the gall to drop the Political Correctness and say it like it is. Obesity is an epidemic in the United States. If people get offended by PETA, too bad. Peta knows how to get the public's attention in order to get real results. Every American is aware how unhealthy it is to be overweight , yet they ignore the facts. Even though Americans consume loads of diet sodas and foods laden with sugar substitutes, they are still overweight. Maybe this strategy will finally get them to do something that will really help them lose weight and be healthier.I've been a vegetarian for 15 years. And yes I DID lose weight when I stopped eating meat. The bonus is is that after eliminating animal products you begin to be more aware of other things you may be consuming too much of. If Americans continue to be so lazy and sloppy and refuse to make the effort to use any self control, and continue to eat super-sized portions , then they are only fooling themselves and it will always be their own fault they are fat.A true vegan will not be gorging on disgusting snack food. Most Americans don't want to take responsibility for their own poor habits so they blame Peta and anyone who dares to bring up the subject.I am 51 years old, 5'6'' and at 105 pounds I weigh exactly what I weighed in high school.I have 3 kids and chose not to let myself go. I rear ends getting wider with every trip to the mall. Where on earth are people's pride ?? And come on, if you aren't losing weight you aren't REALLY trying hard enough.We each have the power to take proper care of our bodies. But it takes time and effort. Stop boo-hooing about Peta.The organization has done wonderful work. Americans are the fattest people in the world,and frankly it is embarrassing. Airplane seats are being made bigger for god's sake! I applaud Peta for having the spine to call women what they are becoming. Whales. Take a long look in your mirror ladies. Are you really proud of what you see ? And no it is not superficial to insist we take care of ourselves. Each one of you big ladies whining about Peta knows dep in your heart that you would be much happier and fel much better physically if you weren't a blimp.

One other comment regarding the person who said you can be " perfectly healthy eating meat ". Wow. You are uniformed. Factory farmed meat is pumped with so many hormones to make the chicken and pigs and cattle grow fatter in a shorter amount of time. Chickens produce more egss, and the milk you are drinking is hormone laden pus. Those hormones are creating all sorts of health issues. Why do you think breast cancer is still on the rise in spite of all the pink ribbon fundraising ? And many young girls are reaching puberty at the age of 9 now ! The cattle are also fed the remnants of other cattle. Cattle are not naturally omnivores they are supposed to eat grains. Sorry if this makes you uncomfortable, but it is the truth . Not to mention the horrific way these innocent animals are treated before slaughtered.Factory farming is not the way animals were raised for food many years ago. Most Americans shut their eyes to the truth because it makes their lives easier.They just want to enjoy that steak on the barbeque grill , no matter how much suffering the animal went through to provide you with your tasty snack.E asier to get pissed off at Peta than for you to have a conscience.......

Sherry -

If shame was all it took to make people thin, there wouldn't be fat person in America.

So why not try treating fat people with a little common decency?

My kids are very well adjusted. My sons eat meat, my daughter eats white meat. I don't force my views on them. They exercise and are slim and healthy because they choose to take care of themselves.They are also smart enough as adults to see this flak over Peta is ridiculous.People get worked up over the dumbest things. Like the teabaggers actually believing Obama is a Commie and his public option for healthcare reform will include shooting grandmas. If this is the level of IQ in the USA , then that does not bode well for the future.Stupid humans. Oh, and I am absolutely sure that just because the " Federal Regulations prohibit the use of hormones " , all farmers obey the law and do what they should...yeah right.The bottom line is $$$. I live in Lancaster, Pa and see Amish farmers running filthy puppy mills despite getting numerous citations and warnings, even after having been temporarily shut down by court orders, they resume their same illegal and inhumane practices immediately, when given second chances. The topic is in our newspapers regularly. They just arrested a vet who was working with one Amish farmer and the details are mind-boggling. Cutting off puppies tails with no anesthesia . Pulling teeth so the female dogs won't bark. An undercover animal control officer witnessed it.So do you think they care about the laws telling them what to do regarding food regulations? They make their 5 year old children help out on the farms and it is a common thing to read accounts of Amish kids getting killed in farm equipment.So if supposedly religious, Amish farmers disobey the law, keep deluding yourself into believing every other farmer is following government requirements.Inspectors are notorious for looking the other way. But this argument is pointless. People will justify being overweight, and justify the suffering of animals, and justify derailing healhcare reform even though 47 million americans have none.Apparently these people do not matter in the least. The selfish people don't care about anyone but themselves. Americans will justify anything that makes their own lives easier. So if chewing that hormone laden dead carcass makes you feel better, all warm and fuzzy, go ahead. Eat it.Enjoy yourself. I couldn't care less .And if you are truly happy being obese, hey go for it. Eat to your heart's content.

To clarify I mentioned the health care scare debate because it is an example of the stupid behavior of some Americans, just like the stupid outrage over Peta.Women complain about their own large rear ends, but if someone like Peta calls attention to the subject the organization is blasted. And no I do not dislike people in general as someone stated in a previous post. I'm just tired of hearing the whining of a segment of Americans .They spend a fortune on diet pills and gimmicks.Hoping for a quick fix.Someone offers them a healthy alternative but they freak out because they don't want give up eating meat.

Sick cows and pigs and turkeys were allowed in the slaughter chain,the united states is a factory farm illness away from a real pandemic,it is immpossible to mass slaughter animals and not have disease and contamination released into the food supply,factory farming is gross,unhealthy and inhumane for animals and the humans consuming the diseased meat from them.

I don't "nibble" I eat delicious food , in normal satisfying portions. You can eat several helpings of fresh fruits and veggies and not gain an ounce. That's the key. 3 helpings of veggies won't blow you up like 3 helpings of Ben & Jerry's. I have a sweet tooth and eat treats too. I just don't overdose on them.

Although the Peta ad can be perceived as offensive and shocking, I think that the concept around it is just what people need to see. Making that lifestyle change is pretty drastic even for people who already watch what they eat.

People need to become more aware of the nutritional value and ingredients that make up their food, and the quantities they're consuming. Once people have decided to start making those educated food choices, half the battle is won. The next step is making an every day habit out of being active - even in little ways. It is much too easy to follow the culture of "convenience" (or laziness) that the U.S. increasingly caters to. Everybody needs to break the mold and make the extra effort to turn this around because most obesity problems (not all) stem from U.S. cultural trends/habits.

I don’t think the billboard is meant to embarass overweight people, but rather to help them. We can’t just ignore America’s growing weight problems because it is a sensitive issue. Shocking tactics seem to be necessary to wake people up, helping them and animals too.
Being vegan has helped me control my weight and stay healthy. It is easier to lose weight on a vegan diet than a meat-based one, provided you’re not eating Oreos all day long–but that’s just common sense.

Lighten up people. Get a sense of humor. The Peta whale ad was funny.
Is showing a diseased lung from smoking also offensive?
Women get more offended than men. It is more effective. I love it. GO PETA.

You know what's even more messed up about this campaign?
It's not directed at fat people. Having thought on it, it seems clear that the intended audience is thin people. The first ad in particular talks about fat people, but not to them. Who is supposed to "save" them? Thin people. It doesn't say "save yourself."

The point is to make thin people feel good about themselves at the expense of fat people, under the guise of trying to help fat people. Forget about fat/thin, there is something about that tactic is just so incredibly offensive. It's ancient, and diabolical and familiar— it makes me think of colonialism and high school... Oh my god! You know what this is? It's the Thin Woman's Burden!

Just... ugh.

This is so typical of jealous females.When my children were young I had mothers of my kids classmates give me the cold shoulder before they even talked to me,and make snide remarks simply because I wasn't fat like they were and I took the time to dress carefully and wear make up . Sorry,I wasn't a fat sloppy mommy using the excuse of giving birth to carry around an extra 60 pounds. I took the time to take care of myself and not let myself go.It's not my fault they chose to let themselves go .They're eating cupcakes everytime little Johnny does, but it's my fault their clothes don't fit anymore ?? Do you have to be super thin ? No of course not. We are talking about the obese.Just because movie theatres sell sodas and candy bars large enough for King Kong doesn't mean we have to actually eat them.Just because Burger king offers a triple bacon cheezeburger / heart bypass in a bun, doesn't mean you have to be dumb enough to eat it...I'm not underweight for my own frame. This is the way I have always been built. Not bony just slender. After retaining the obligatory 10 pounds after pregnancy, switching to a meatless , plant based diet got rid of the baby weight , made me feel comfortable and my old size 4 clothes fit again. Health,ethical, moral , environmental reasons were why I gave up animal products.

Rant all you want. The above post sarcastically says we "can't expect those foolish fat people to control their 'own ' lives ". Well the diet industry is a multi-million dollar business. New diet books, pills, supplements, every gimmick you can imagine is pounced on and embraced by those battling weight problems,those who have difficulty losing weight or managing their weight.So obviously overweight people must be experiencing some form lack of control. If Peta offers a suggestion, take or leave it. But don't be offended. It is interesting that the people I see shouting the loudest ,insisting that you can be happy and healthy being overweight, are constantly on some kind of diet or have spent much of their lives on diets. So, if they are so content, why are they trying to lose weight ?

It is a fact that the population is much much heavier than it was years ago.Take a look around you. Look at old pictures from the 50's, 60's and 70's, 80's. Look at the clothes in vintage shops. Waists were tinier and women in general were slimmer. Look at old movies, the stars were elegant with defined waistlines. Teenage girls now stuff themselves into tank tops and tight clothing even though the rolls are spilling over their jeans. When I was a teenager if you couldn't pull off a tiny top, you dressed in something flattering for your body type. Not now. Don't these people own mirrors ? Is a gut hanging out of a midriff top attractive ?? But what is happening is that society is forgetting what NORMAL is supposed to look like. They consider overweight the new normal. When they see a slender woman they think she's underweight.

The drug companies want to keep Americans fat . If you give up meat and no longer need your lipitor, uh-oh. No profit there. One more thing. I find it ironic that in our society it is considered the ultimate insult to mention a person's weight. To actually , directly tell a man or woman they are fat is considered the lowest insult and most crass manners imaginable. But people regularly ,openly tell super thin people to their face, " you need to gain some weight " or " You should put on 20 pounds" . A mother once said to my thin 10 year little daughter " where's your butt ? " What if it were reversed and I had said to her plump little girl, " why's your butt so big ? ".I would never do such a thing, but if I had I would have been crucified. Thin people are supposed to take this as perfectly acceptable behavior, and not get their feelings hurt. But if I say to someone " you need to lose 20 pounds " or " gee, your butt is really big ". Can you imagine the outrage ??? So let me see...the bigger people rate a completely different set of manners ? Wow. That's interesting...

I am going to end on one last note about Peta: Today we have cruelty free products because of what Peta did 20 years ago.

Even those who are animal activists against Peta, most likely would not even be aware of animal rights if it weren't for Peta.

More than half of the undercoverage footage that we have to expose animal cruelty would not exist if it weren't for Peta.

Peta sends free fliers and tabling packs all across North America, which 99% of animal rights demos are done using Peta materials, even by groups claiming to hate Peta !

Over 80% of Peta money goes towards educational programs and aid programs.

Peta is a registered charity which means tha their accounts are transparent.

Peta Chair Ingrid Newkirk takes home a salary of less than $30 thousand a year.

The flashy ads are done with celebrities who donate their time.

Sure Peta may touch nerves with controversial ads, but the organization has done incredible work , being the voices for animals who cannot speak for themselves.

No more dialogue for me...I've said enough, ladies. Don't miss me too much.... : )

Do we really expect PETA to be sensitive to the feelings of anyone in their quest to .. wait.. what is their quest?

- to harass certain celebrities?
- to make news?
- to throw "blood" at people?
- to strip good looking celebrities down?
- to send clumps of hair in the mail?
- to advocate the use of lettuce as clothing?
- to incite hate and degrade people?
- to lose all credibility?
- to do everything in exceedingly bad taste?

Hmmm.. Tough one.

Obesity and overeating are currently an epidemic in the US. Sedentary lifestyles, computerized modes of communication, cars, and high fat calorie foods without much physical exercise to burn them off are creating serious health outcomes. Obesity is related to high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, diabetes, heart-disease and a myriad of other health concerns.

PETA is making a great point in many ways.

1) Obesity is bad for people and bad for our pockets. When people develop a variety of conditions due to obesity, this puts a burden on the health-care system and our pockets. One of the reasons we rank so lowly on the health scale, in addition to insufficient access to health-care, is obesity and its related health conditions.

2) a vegetarian diet is more conducive to a healthier lifestyle (and weight) than a predominantly meat based diet

3) a vegetarian diet is also better for the planet, because of the high cost of raw energy required to raise one pound of meat

4) a vegetarian diet helps save the millions of animals that are being held in barbaric conditions just to be food for us. Either buy meat from humanely raised animals (free range..) or dont buy at all

5) meat contains many antibiotics and hormones (to fatten the animal and to prevent it from getting a disease since it is housed in such proximity to other cattle) that the body burden from all these hormones and endocrine disruptors is further detrimental to your health.

I love it ! If I was obese I'd have a sense of humor about my problem. Get over yourself people.

The vegetarian diet saves both humans and animals lives...,this is a serious message put into an eye-catching controversial billboard BECAUSE of how serious it is. We can not afford to have this message ignored and one way to get people to pay attention is to push the envelope. Did you notice it worked? It got plenty of attention. Positive or negative attention...who cares? Negative attention seems to be even more effective in this culture. Otherwise all of you animal eaters will keep ignoring the suffering and pain you cause...la­-de-da-da-­--- like a toy soldier marching to the bloody drum beat of animal eating conformity.
Watch the video: meat.org

Ann and Amitie': to put it bluntly, you are wrong on many counts. You are mistakenly linking health and weight. Please read this link.

http://kateharding.net/but-dont-you-realize-fat-is-unhealthy/

I think it’s funny, if a little inaccurate. Simply going vegetarian won’t help. GO VEGAN. The fattys need to give up dairy! Stop eating at nasty McDonalds, go for a walk and eat some vegetables!
- funny

Love it!the message says what many of us are already thinking just don’t have the guts to say it. How many obese vegetarians do you know?

I think the ad is funny and effective. I am not at all a PETA supporter. I love meat!!! I eat it almost daily. I like farmed and game meat. I just think everybody is so sensitive that every ad for everything offends somebody. If it offends fat people, then they should just eat smaller portions and excercise more. They don’t need to go veggie or vegan to shed the pounds.

Can someone maybe delete the fat-hating comments? I've noticed that some have already been removed (Duran's, for instance) but it's kind of ridiculous to see this kind of commentary remain here.

Get a grip people!! If its not one thing its another! Pretty soon, we’ll hear about a fat person wanting to sue PETA because that ad made them eat even more then what they usually do!! Its funny, I like it, and it put a smirk on my pretty face! Love the Marketing!

Oh, God, the PETA Shill Brigade is here... Y'all ought to read The True Believer by Eric Hoffer.

Honestly I think its hysterical! I was supermodel skinny and over the last 5 years have gained over 125 pounds. (due to illness as a start but lets be honest the illness doesnt make me eat like crap! I do that!) I think that if we can’t laugh at ourselves then we are to damn sensitive! I am fat right now! I know it! IT’s THE TRUTH! If people are offended by the truth then they have more problems then just their weight! Now a word to all the overweight people that will be screaming yelling and protesting this sign here is a piece of advice: “If your body ran half as much as your mouth then you wouldn’t have the weight problem you do!” I love this poster and I am gonna give it a try and see if there is a significant weightloss by cutting out meat! In the mean time… Come on people LAUGH! Its funny!

I find this billboard debate fascinating. I do not percieve any " fat hating " on this blog at all. Merely trying to discuss how obesity is really a problem in the USA. A serious health problem. Are people so sensitive they can't see that ? I am not a vegan and too struggle with my weight,if it is a possibilty that forgoing animal products helps manage weight, it sounds like a solution worth looking into. Certainly the suggestion should not cause mass hysteria.

What I do see on this message board though, is people getting very defensive and angry.Percieving any mention of how to solve the problem as "hating ' those who cannot control their weight. They misintepret trying to solve the obesity epidemic as bashing those with weight problems. Are we not supposed to admit obesity is indeed a serious matter ? It is obvious this issue runs way deeper than a mere Peta ad.

In response to the posts by " Village Idiot " berating me for not responding to your comments. I do have rational responses to you. Wow. Little hot under the collar aren't you. If you can't stand Peta, ignore them. You called Katie2 a " liar " . You called Amitie' a " lock step lemming and fanatic " A bit rude, eh ? Chill out...Perhaps anger management may be something worth looking into.....

Village Idiot, You stated in your above post regarding Peta, quote" " seems clear that since PETArds (hey, screw that political correctness, right?) despise humans, are obsessed with Doomsday scenarios caused by how stupid we all are, and hate being confused by facts it means what these juvenile campaigns are really all about is expression of a seething hatred you possess with no corresponding interest in fostering any change at all. Y’all think civilization is a Lost Cause and just want to take a few cheap shots at those you hate, or blame. I take some satisfaction in the fact that people like you are incapable of enjoying much of anything, including the mean-spirited mockery you attempt to dish out ".

Gee whiz... Sure sounds like the pot calling the kettle black... You've been doing a pretty good job of displaying mean spiritedness yourself hurling insults at those discussing this issue.

Regarding the "peta -kills -animals " campaign, which purposely misrepresents Peta's stance on euthanzing animals :

Click here: The PETA Files: Why We Euthanize

Correct link below Regarding the “peta -kills -animals ” campaign, which purposely misrepresents Peta’s stance on euthanzing animals:

copy and paste

http://blog.peta.org/archives/2009/03/why_we_euthaniz.php?c=euthanasiag0309&gclid=CJzynMOjs5wCFQxM5QodGwT3ow

Over the years Peta has been both admirable and embarrassing . I do however feel it is not productive or necessary to direct one's energy at hating them .

My reasoning for finding meat eating unethical is complex and not easily distilled into little bullet points.

I think meat is the least efficient way to feed people, and that exorbitant waste is unethical.

I think killing to survive when you have many other options is unethical.

All in all I find meat eating to be unnecessary and imprudent. I do not share these views with meat eaters unless they ask, though. The subject seems to be a lightening rod for conflict...

A vegetarian plan will help get you on your way to a healthier you, but of course there is more involved.
As we age, our metabolism slows down and most people continue to eat at 50 what they ate at 20, plus our activities slow also. That’s how most of us gain weight. An entire lifestyle change is needed when we hit our 40’s or so. Most don’t though. Plus there are more additives to our food now then back in the 70’s & 80’s. There are many complex reasons for obesity, and too much food and too little exercise is a main, but not the only point

Poisons in food date back significantly to post-World War II. It was done to convert from a wartime economy into a peacetime economy. So all the factories had to convert to domestic peacetime use, hence gunpowder nitrates in fertilizer on crops instead of manure. You couldn’t just have all that production stop and stall the economy.
It was then marketed as being good that chem-tech was in your food.
PCBs made it into the food supply by the recycling of electrical transformer oil used as lube for food production machines. And you can’t wash or rinse that stuff off equipment.

The list is endless of how the resultant fifties “chemical technology” expanded and everything added was now considered “modern and high-tech”. Remember…Tang. The astronauts drank it in space, so it must be good for you. The post-industrial corporate machine’s contribution to your breakfast table. See if you can find out where margarine comes from and how it is made. And this stuff was, and is, marketed as being better than butter. Man what a mind*!#.

Then consider the chemicals developed during Vietnam. War creates death far beyond the battlefield.

The eighties saw a jump in additions to foods particularly with the nutra-sweet and artificial ingredients. The entire pre-packaged food market expanded immensely during this time as did the mega-grocery store.

Have you seen the cookie aisle lately, it is as long as a city block in the store? Now you have five different kinds of Oreos…like ones that are chocolate covered with extra cream inside, wedged between two fudge brownies, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and filled with raspberry jelly and gummy bears. You get my drift.

Just don’t eat it…simple.
Real food is quite distinguishable…even monkeys know what it is.

Truly my last post this subject is getting tedious : )

If PETA promoting a meatless lifestyle is repulsive , how about Wal-Mart ? It is darn scary… even the produce looks…”tainted” in some way. Like it is cloned from the real thing. And their meat looks so strange as to guess it is grown on plastic mesh with some liquid aminos and some bacterial organisms fecal matter contributing to the matrix of protein that is then passed off as…”ground beef”.

These bottom of the scumbarrel restaurants that offer a whole days worth of calories in one upsized meal for three dollars, but not just these restaurants of sleeze with cheeze. But all these chains like Chilies, Fridays, Dennys, Applebees, etc. Where the eight dollar entree comes with a feedbag as the portions for one are usually for four.

Stop making it so darn easy for you to eat. Start buying the healthful raw ingredients for savory and healthy dishes and put the time it to make it at home. Cut down on the take-out and delivery.

Exercise some common sense and some self-control.

Such lame excuses. My dad died when I was 6 and my sister was 1 1/2 years old. My mom raised us alone, she never remarried. She worked 2 jobs to support us but she always managed to find time to make nutricious cooked meals for us. When I got married and became a working mom I made sure I found time to do the same. It took a bit of juggling, but it was do-able.Would it have ben easier to hand the kids Happy Meals, uh, yeah. I chose not to. We can make time for what ever we truly want to do. It only takes a short time to whip something up, meals don't have to be elaborate Julia Child masterpieces. Throw something in a crock pot , it will slow cook while you're away and your supper will be waiting for you the minute you walk in the door. Plus there are tons of recipes ready in 15 minutes. You can toss rice,fresh veggies and meat if you need it, whatever, in a wok and stir fry them in literally minutes. Make a huge bowl of salad -enough to last all week . You can reach for that instead of stopping at the drive thru MCDonalds.
I know people who are working several jobs, going to school, and still find time to watch CSI Miami or any number of brain numbing reality shows... If we really want to do something we will do it. If we don't want to do something we'll find a multitude of creative excuses......

Boy this is the touchiest ,most sensitive thread I've ever seen. What self righteousness ? Most people have to work for a living. Is this headline breaking news ? Everyone is busy. All of the sudden this is the only generation that is too busy to make cooking & eating healthy meals a priority ? Giving an example and offering a few suggestions on how to fit cooking into a busy schedule is percieved as self righteous ?It seems any mention of substituting healthy choices for fast food poison, throws them into defensive/ panic mode.
Americans are masters at excuses. Everyone has a "thyroid" problem and that's the reason they can't find the "energy " to get to the gym or put down the cake. Everyone is too " busy " to excercise. I do sit ups while watching the news, and do leg lifts while talking on the phone .I walk my dog. If you consider that self righteous, sorry. I'm just saying it can be done if 'ya wanna do it.

Self-righteous: "I can do it, so can you" attitude when you don't even know what the discussion is about, aren't willing to look into literature discussing the pitfalls in assuming connections between health and weight or behaviour and weight, and using terms like "put down the cake".

If you aren't willing to have a serious discussion on the topic, then nobody is forcing you to. But please be aware that by coming onto a website dedicated to sociological analysis, you look foolish when you post comments which include such uncritical acceptance of mainstream thought on obesity and body types.

I digress. I am a blithering fool, my comments haven't lived up to the standards of this website. Your previous quote " I'm not sure if I want any veggies right now " . Wow that is some profound " sociological analysis ".

Getting on topic...Here is my analysis of the Peta billboard :

PETA is "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals," not "People for the Ethical Treatment of People."

While the ad is distasteful, it is a call to action. Very thought provoking. I like the sort of ending that leaves it open to personal input.

I do not have a degree in sociology, I just stumbled onto this site via a link about the Peta billboard. I have no idea if mostly educated sociologists are posting these comments or if anyone interested, degree or not is adding to the debate. But if in fact the majority of posts are from PHD's , here's a fascinating topic for you, please explain the scientific reasons for male Sociologists being momumentally rude and seriously lacking in the simplest manners. Most comments posted here are sarcastic, tinged with seething vitriol .Does scientific data exist to support the theory that these males are generally just unhappy people or is it merely the subject of weight management which brings out the worst in them ?

The Peta billboard trying to promote health and weight loss through vegetarianism will fail. Not because many find it sexist , shocking and offensive. It will fail because most adults and teenagers know that meat is torture and murder. One of the problems in the animal activist movement is our self denial to this fact. A lot of us continue to believe that if people will be more aware then they will change. This is not true in my opinion, we should acknowledge that people will always be selfish and will always look for (and find) some “rationality” to justify their behavior (a case of cognitive dissonance).

I know it sounds arrogant, but most vegans hold personal qualities that have allowed them to become vegan, despite (or because) their own selfishness. It is painful to think about it, but most (not all) non-vegans do not possess these qualities and never will.

You are one angry dude.I've never seen anyone exert so much hateful energy. ( Well, maybe the Teabaggers bringing guns to heakthcare rallies, hilding signs saying " Keep the Government Out of my Medicare ". Same mentality... )I never said I was a member of Peta. Not all those who advocate animal rights agree with the " in your face " way Peta operates. I do not hate the human race, I love my many friends and family. But people are indeed inherently selfish. You want data, studies, the scientific approach, well humans ARE basically selfish. Some much more so than others.That is a scientific fact . Not all those who care about animals, and want to try to change the inhumane practices existing in the USA are militants. Anyone who is aware of the pitifully way factory farmed animals are treated in order to produce meat for Americans ; those knowing that this farming is destroying the environment,and still continue to buy ,eat and guiltlessly enjoy the food which comes at such an immoral cost; deep in their hearts and minds they do know it is wrong, but yet they selfishly do not care enough to stop. Many comments here are perfect examples of such attitudes. Here is the article that is on the front page of the new issue of TIME Magazine. It is not by Peta. If humans with any compassion can still support factory farming it is a validation of the selfishness you deny. Those are the vegan " personal qualities " I was referring to. Yes, sorry if you can't handle the truth, but obviously those who DO NOT SUPPORT CRUELTY are different than those who CONDONE CRUELTY. Apparently it is easier to lash out at animal rights advocates and call them crazy, than to examine your own conscience. Animals have no voice of their own. Trying to speak for them and try to show them the respect they deserve is not being a militant whackjob. Any discussion with you Mr. " Village Idiot " is pointless.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1917458,00.html

Footnote; I am a member of the ACLU, Amnesty International, regularly donate to Oxfam and Fisherhouse Foundation. My children and I continue to send monthly boxes to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, although most people don't even bother to talk about Iraq anymore.
I've marched in D.C. numerous times to bring our troops home and end the war. Yeah, I guess I pretty much hate the human race.

Do not assume because animal rights activists care deeply for animals, that we hate people. Our problem is we are too hopeful. Always hoping that selfish humans will rise and evolve and have more compassion and consideration for fellow man and all creatures which inhabit our planet. We've been consistently disappointed by greedy politicians and self centered humans. But we continue to hope. There is no other alternative.

You asked how my " activist resume' " is relevant. It seems many who pride themselves on being " scientific minded " are lacking in common sense. I wasn't tooting my own horn . I mentioned being involved in those activities because you were insisting I and others like me hated the human race. I was trying to make a point. If I did not care about humans I would hardly devote so much time to causes which benefit them. Those who care so much about animals, definitely care about people too. Even though you insist otherwise. Also I did not say I SAT AROUND and HOPED ". You just don't get it and you never will.

i'm a vegetarian and have been for about a year and a half, a i'm still bigger. they imply the wrong things.

I assure you, being a vegetarian does NOT necessarily make one lose weight -- I've been veggie for SIX years and I've definitely gained weight.

In fact, I think it's because I've replaced a lot of the meat products in my diet with starches (pasta or potatoes for dinner, for example, when I would have had hot dogs) that has made me gain weight -- not just that, but I'm also fairly sedate.

What's with all of these self-professed obese vegetarians? You're doing it wrong! Have some damn respect for your bodies.