If you happen to find yourself in a large crowd, you will likely notice that the people in it are rather large as well. My observation is that obesity is now the new normal and so obvious that I won't bother supplying you with sources. In support, I will simply say, I should also be dieting.
Flying the Crowded Skies
Perhaps the portly people are more noticeable at airports since we naturally have a fear of flying next to one of them. It is also the case that even those with a very basic knowledge of aeronautics must wonder if the plane will be able to lift off, after seeing a Hummer-sized couple try to stuff several hundred more pounds in your overhead bin.
Airlines are paying some attention to the added pounds since it is clear that the average guy today probably weighs as much as both Wright brothers. This startling headline is offered as proof: "Airline Starts Weighing Passengers at Gate." The airline is Finnair, and Korean Air and Air New Zealand have also conducted weight surveys. You will be less startled when you learn that your weight on the scale is not displayed for all in the terminal to see, and the data anonymized so that no one will know that it is you carrying all that extra fat.
The issue of stoutness has come up recently in relation to Southwest Airlines' announcement that their open-seating policy is being changed. Those of you who think that, generally corpulence is something that can be controlled will be astonished to learn that Southwest sometimes provided an extra seat for free to those who did not fit very well into the one they purchased. Members of NAAFA are looking into the matter. You can as well by looking at these sources.
Sources:
"Airline Starts Weighing Passengers at the Gate," Julia Buckley, CNN, Feb. 9, 2024.
"Why Korean Air Will Be Weighing Some Passengers Before Their Flights," Lilit Marcus, CNN, Aug. 24, 2023.
"Air New Zealand to Weigh Passengers Before They Board the Airplane," Lilit Marcus, CNN, May 31, 2023.
"Plus-size Travelers Ask Southwest Airlines to not Abandon Them: Advocates in the Plus-Size Community Are Urging Southwest to Keep Its Free-Second-Seat Policy," Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, Aug. 2, 2024.
NAAFA - National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance.
The Bonus:
I wasn't familiar with the phrase "plus-sized", but it dates back to 1927 when people were already looking for a euphemism for "huge" and it now applies to a large segment of the clothing market.
Readers of MM will know that I have done a series of posts about magazines, called "Periodical Ramblings". I now realize that I could do one about "Plus-Sized Periodicals", but won't . Here is one of the titles: The Pretty Pear Bride, "the world's only magazine dedicated exclusively to plus-sized brides."
"Airline Starts Weighing Passengers at the Gate," Julia Buckley, CNN, Feb. 9, 2024.
"Why Korean Air Will Be Weighing Some Passengers Before Their Flights," Lilit Marcus, CNN, Aug. 24, 2023.
"Air New Zealand to Weigh Passengers Before They Board the Airplane," Lilit Marcus, CNN, May 31, 2023.
"Plus-size Travelers Ask Southwest Airlines to not Abandon Them: Advocates in the Plus-Size Community Are Urging Southwest to Keep Its Free-Second-Seat Policy," Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, Aug. 2, 2024.
NAAFA - National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance.
The Bonus:
I wasn't familiar with the phrase "plus-sized", but it dates back to 1927 when people were already looking for a euphemism for "huge" and it now applies to a large segment of the clothing market.
Readers of MM will know that I have done a series of posts about magazines, called "Periodical Ramblings". I now realize that I could do one about "Plus-Sized Periodicals", but won't . Here is one of the titles: The Pretty Pear Bride, "the world's only magazine dedicated exclusively to plus-sized brides."
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