Disturbing, but I said nothing

Yesterday I saw a teenage girl so obese that each of her thighs was two feet wide. She could barely push the shopping cart- which only contained soda-pop. Her parents just looked on as her sad face finally made it to the car.

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ninalanyon · 61-69, T

But what could you have said? Would anything have any useful effect?

Something needs to be done because obesity is a growing problem almost everywhere. But what?

MissPerfect · 22-25, F

@ninalanyon I could have said something to the parents about her sadness.

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

@MissPerfect Yes. But if they are perceptive enough to have noticed you won't be telling them anything they don't already know. If they aren't do you to think that knowing will prompt them to do anything about it?

I mean to say you are right to be concerned for her but saving her from the situation she is in is likely to be a big and contentious project.

I have first hand experience with an overweight family member (not even close to that extreme) and it was a very difficult topic to discuss and ultimately futile.

So, don't feel too bad about it.