22 year old Austin Shifflett was bullied while going through high school. Student's made fun of him because of his body. Austin was very obese and told Today.com, "If I was in the lunch line, they [the other students] would make comments about what was on my tray."
Austin couldn't think of anything to help cope with his emotional pain and embarrassment except sugary drinks, fast food, and heavy meals. In order to get away from the cruel words of his classmates, Austin would purposefully misbehave enough to force the administration to suspend him.
Austin's rock bottom was when he stepped on a scale at a friend's house. His weight had peaked at 324 pounds. He decided to give the Atkins diet a shot. The Atkins diet limits carbs to promote weight loss. In just the first week, Austin lost nine pounds.
"Just seeing that nine pounds [fall off] got me hooked!" he stated
Austin is now going to college in Virginia to pursue a degree in personal training.
Read the full story here
What do you think of obese youth?
What would you do if your friend was 324 pounds?
Replies
Good topic and summary but you could have replied more frequently.
I think the obesity rate in children is sad and it is going to keep increasing. You are supposed to look and feel your best during your childhood years. I would definitely try and help my friend exercise and maybe even exercise with them. I would also help them stick to their diet if they decided to go on one.
I would do the same thing! And I think that most people in that situation would do that. Many people feel sympathy for obese people and want to help.
If my friend was 324 pounds I would encurage him or her to exersize with me or eat healthyer foods no candy or soda pop. Also to only have a certon amount a calories everyday.
its partially the parents fault because they aren't strict enough on kid with what they eat. obese children is continuing to get worse and something needs to be done
I think that its partially the parents fault because they aren't strict enough on kid with what they eat. I would try to help them slim down by working out with them daily.
I think that obese children is continuing to get worse, and that something needs to be done. I think that America definitely needs to do something about this because it seems that we are promoting the unhealthy image. I think that looks do not determine a person and that they should be judged based on their character, so I don't think that an overweight friend would be an issue. However, I would try to help them become healthier because that is the right thing to do.
Most people don't realize how much America is trying to make kids healthier. Like no more candy or pop in vending machines and the lunches are lower in calories. And a lot of kids complain that America is too fat but then turn around and complain that the lunches are bad and that there isn't good food in the vending machines.
I think that obesity in children has gotten worse over the years but what can we do about it? We tell people that they need to eat healthier but they are going to do what they want. They are going to eat whatever they want. If my friend was 324 pounds I would support them with whatever they choose to do with their body. If they want to lose weight I will be their to support them. If they don't want to lose the weight I will still be their best friend no matter what. I'm not going stop being their friend because they are obese.
I feel very bad for Austin and his obese years. Nobody knows what he went through while getting bullied in high school, but good for him for realizing that he was tired of it and decided to do something about it. If my friend kept gaining that much wait I would try to confront them and make them do better. I would help them until they feel comfortable.
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