It's in common use, but not really derogatory per se. It's not restricted
to the doctor's office, but it's just used in a descriptive way, similar to
"large".
You could, of course, make it derogatory:
"Boy, she is really large"
"Boy, she is really obese"
but you have to work at it.
As opposed to:
"Man, I wonder how that fat pig manages to squish themself into that tiny
little car."
which is a bit more derogatory.
However, obesity itself is a sensitive condition, so describing someone may
or may not be a sensitive topic. But the word itself isn't particularly
noxious.
- Tab
At 06:19 PM 8/3/00 +0100, David Hill wrote:
>Hi,
>
>Can anyone help with the everyday or common usage of a word in the US?
>The word is 'obese'-is this ever used in a derogatory way in America, or is
>it more like a clinical or 'professional' term?
>
>Apologies in advance for my use of bandwidth.
>
>David Hill
>
>
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