A moment that changed me: being abused on the street about my weight | Sofie Hagen

Any centre of any city on any Friday or Saturday night always has the same vibe. It is as if there has been a fire at the prick factory and everyone has escaped. I always try to stay away. If I have a standup gig in central London, I leave immediately after the show and get back to my safe bed as soon as I possibly can. Alcohol brings out the worst in some people – and no one has ever drunkenly told me something I really needed to hear.

This happened on a Saturday. I had rushed out of a gig and got the tube to Kennington, where I was waiting for my bus. I’d forgotten my headphones – I never forget my headphones – so I was hyper-aware of all the drunk people walking the streets, getting on the tube, going into London to seek shelter in nightclubs where the music, fortunately, is so loud that no one can hear them speak, which means they never have to develop personalities.

I saw four young men approach the bus stop. I was not surprised when they spoke – I expected it. “Oi you fat cunt!” one of them said. “Oink oink,” said another. The rest is a blur because I focused on whatever was on my phone. It hurt, of course. As it would have hurt anyone.

I cannot say it clearly enough: this happens on a daily basis to hundreds of thousands of fat people everywhere

Not having any idea what to do, I put it on Facebook. I shared it with my friends and followers. I just needed to do with that experience what I usually do when I do standup – take ownership of it and express myself. It felt a bit better.

I woke up the next day to my post having been shared thousands of times. It was even in newspapers and on blogs. “Danish Comedian Sofie Hagen says: They Shouted Abuse At Me” and “Men Shout At Danish Comedian – What Happens Next Will Shock You” and other such clickbaity headlines. People had commented underneath the post, things such as, “I am really sorry that happened to you,” and “Those guys were massive pricks.”

It stopped hurting. The hurt immediately disappeared. And all I was left with was anger.

Sofie Hagen performing at the Edinburgh Fringe, 2016. Photograph: Murdo Macleod for the Guardian

I cannot say it clearly enough: this is not a once-in-a-lifetime thing. This happens on a daily basis to hundreds of thousands of fat people everywhere. This will happen today, at this very moment, to a 14-year-old girl who is yet to realise that her body’s worth is not dependent on what the media tells her about it. It is happening to children. It will happen again. Maybe tonight when I am walking home from a gig, even though it is Monday and I’m nowhere near the centre of a city.

This will happen online – some people will even be inclined to write it under this very article. People will tell me to stop promoting obesity. People will tell me to just lose weight. People on Twitter will tweet at me without having read the article and pretend that they are merely worried about my health. Some will even tell me I am making it up. Some fat people will say they have never experienced anything like that.

This will happen on TV, in movies and in radio. As I am writing this, my fat friend told me that last week she was hit in the head with a kebab – and yes, that is a really funny sentence – I am but human, and “kebab” is a funny word and that is a funny image. It is, however, also normal and unforgivable.

It has always happened and it will continue to happen. But now it’s different. I no longer feel good when people pity or comfort me afterwards. I do not need people’s kind words. I need their fury. I need them to be angry with me. I need them to act.

I need everyone to realise the repercussions of making “fat” mean lazy, stupid, unattractive and unhealthy. Fat is not necessarily unhealthy and skinny is not necessarily healthy. I need people to stop saying “You are not fat, you are beautiful,” as though they are mutually exclusive. I need people to feel angry – not at these four idiots at Kennington station – but at the society that created them. I need people to demand change. Tweet companies who use fatphobia to promote their products, email TV shows portraying fat women as sexless and evil or motherly and goofy. Call out your friends, family and teachers.

If not, that is OK. But then keep your pity to yourself. I am a healthy, beautiful, intelligent, active and creative fat woman. I am doing what I love for a living. I have friends and family who love me. I am good. I am no longer sad. Now I am just angry, and I wish you were too.

• Sofie Hagel is on tour and will be performing Shimmer Shammer at the Soho Theatre in London, 5-17 December

A moment that changed me: being abused on the street about my weight | Sofie Hagen

Abused children more likely to be seriously ill as adults, says report

Children who suffer abuse, violence or other trauma at home are more likely to become seriously ill as adults, a report has concluded.

The study says children who endure four or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with a chronic disease in later life compared with those that have experienced none.

They are four times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, three times more likely to develop heart disease and three times more likely to develop respiratory disease, according to the report from Public Health Wales.

According to the report, over a 12-month period, those with four or more ACEs were three times more likely to have attended accident and emergency units, three times more likely to have stayed overnight in hospital, and twice as likely to have visited their GP, again compared with people who report no ACEs.

The report, the first nationwide study of its kind produced by a public health body in the UK, argues that the reasons are not simply cyclical – that a child who has a challenging home life, where, for example, adults smoke or drink heavily, is more likely to do the same and suffer bad health as a consequence.

It points out there is growing evidence that in addition early life trauma leads to changes in neurological, immunological and hormonal development that have detrimental effects on health across a lifetime.

Children who are constantly exposed to stress can become permanently prepared to respond to further trauma – which can increase strain on the body.

ACEs are defined as traumatic experiences that occur before the age of 18, ranging from verbal, mental and physical abuse to exposure to alcoholism, drug use, domestic violence or parents’ relationships breaking down.

The lead report author, Prof Mark Bellis, the director of policy, research and international development at Public Health Wales, said its previous research had shown how ACEs increase the uptake of health-harming behaviours such as smoking and drug use and reduce mental wellbeing in adults.

He said: “This report shows how experiencing abuse and other problems in childhood are linked with increased levels of chronic disease in adulthood and much greater use of health care. What happens to us as children can make our bodies develop differently, leaving them more vulnerable to conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease in later life.”

Bellis said that finding solutions needed a change in approach.

“This cannot be achieved by the NHS alone. That is why we are working with our key partners, including the government, police, local authorities, charitable and voluntary sector organisations, to develop a joined-up approach to prevent ACEs and support adults whose health is suffering because of childhood trauma.”

The relationship between ACEs and the development of health-harming behaviours and chronic disease in adulthood was first explored in the US in the late 90s. The Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University – now the Public Health Institute – ran the first British study in Lancashire in 2012.

More than 2,000 adults aged 18-69 took part in the Welsh study, providing anonymous information on their exposure to ACEs before the age of 18 and their health and lifestyles as adults. The results take into account sociodemographic factors and show it is not simply the children of “deprived” homes who suffer ACEs.

Simon Capewell, vice-president of the Faculty of Public Health, said the Welsh study was very important. “This is the sort of data that needs to be used to prevent health issues that become a burden on the NHS and on our society,” he said.

Wales’s future generations commissioner, Sophie Howe, said the study showed public services had to work together. “This new evidence from Public Health Wales emphasises the importance of focusing on early years and reducing the number of children living in families where there is domestic abuse, mental health problems, substance misuse or other forms of abuse or neglect.

“If we don’t tackle this we are storing up long term health and social problems for these children and our public services further down the line.”

Abused children more likely to be seriously ill as adults, says report

Survey reveals half of autistic adults "abused by somebody they trusted"

Samantha Cameron (2nd left), wife of prime minister David Cameron, speaks with playworker Paige (left) and eleven 12 months-outdated Nathaniel Restal, who has autism spectrum disorder. Photograph: Oli Scarff/PA

There is a “devastating scale” of neglect and abuse skilled by adults with autism, a charity has warned.

Several are staying at residence since they are afraid of currently being abused or harassed, the National Autistic Society (NAS) stated.

Individuals with autism can locate it hard to interpret other people’s motivations and as a end result can be taken advantage of or manipulated, the charity said.

Half of one,300 sufferers questioned by NAS explained they had been abused by someone who they imagined of as a friend, 37% stated they had been manipulated to do anything they did not want to do by these so-called friends and 44% mentioned fear of abuse or harassment led them to not want to leave the residence.

Meanwhile a quarter of those polled explained they have had their income or possessions stolen.

The charity said that the poll revealed that numerous grownups with the issue are becoming neglected.

Two thirds mentioned they call for somebody to prompt them to wash, dress or feed themselves. But seven in 10 of these sufferers explained they had missed meals because they don’t get this help and 86% explained they had not washed.

NAS raised concerns that alterations to the care method could mean this type of neglect could turn out to be a lot more commonplace. A spokesman said that the government’s proposals recommend that people will be eligible for care and assistance if they need to have “support”, which may not always consist of prompting.

Mark Lever, chief executive of NAS, explained: “These alarming figures paint a depressing picture of the horrendous abuse and neglect knowledgeable by numerous adults with autism.

“We have heard deeply distressing stories of males and girls living in utterly intolerable situations, exploited physically and financially by supposed buddies or unable to care for themselves with out support.

“1 skilled informed us of a guy who had been identified at house struggling from extreme malnutrition and with mould expanding on his skin as he was unable to feed or clean himself without having prompting.

“We know that many people with autism are ready to live fairly independent lives, but many other folks require assistance to stay risk-free and healthful.

“The government’s changes to the care system offer you a chance to help these at-danger men and women. However, we are extremely concerned that the existing proposals as they stand do not recognise the simple needs of these a lot more vulnerable people with autism.

“It really is not as well late. The eligibility criteria have to be revised so that they explicitly recognise the help demands of these at risk of abuse and neglect and safeguard some of the most vulnerable men and women in society.”

Survey reveals half of autistic adults "abused by somebody they trusted"

Supermarket personnel abused for refusing to promote to underage drinkers report

Supermarket employees ‘face physical and verbal abuse from customers refused an alcohol sale’, the report says. Photograph: Frank Augstein/AP

Supermarket checkout workers who refuse to promote alcohol to underage buyers are becoming subjected to verbal abuse and violent physical assault, whilst “proxy getting” by close friends and even dad and mom is on the enhance, a new report on underage drinking has warned.

The information comes from a main analysis of the 1st eight years of the so-known as Challenge 25 scheme – a retail-led approach to inspire men and women among 18 and 25 who want to acquire alcohol to carry ID.

The research also suggests that consuming amid young individuals is falling overall. It identified that the amount of youthful people drinking in the preceding week – a essential measure – had fallen by 18% because Challenge 25 was introduced, even though total alcohol consumption between 16-24 yr olds slumped by 24%.

Despite the fall in underage drinking, it identified worrying new trends” past retailers’ manage, which may possibly be contributing in direction of “pre-loading”: youngsters drinking heavily at residence prior to hitting nightclubs in towns and City centres, fuelling anti-social behaviour.

Challenge 25, which is administered by the Retail of Alcohol Standards Group, was launched in 2006 and requires anybody above the age of 18, who seems to be underneath 25, to produce an acceptable type of ID when acquiring wine, beer and spirits from a supermarket or participating retailer. The voluntary scheme was launched to tackle the alarmingly high fee of illegal underage purchases and has now been adopted by all main Uk supermarkets, they have also invested heavily in advertising it.

Around 11 million folks have been challenged to supply proof of their age as a result of Challenge 25, like 75% of 18–24 year olds. But the report also highlights some of the continuing issues that merchants face in relation to underage income, including “frontline workers facing verbal and bodily abuse from consumers refused an alcohol sale, and the expanding dilemma with proxy getting”.

To deal with these problems, the report suggests that participants function a lot more closely with the police and other stakeholders to tackle “the significant issue of assaults on frontline staff and get in touch with on the government to create a new aggregated offence of assaulting shop employees”. It says more function is essential to curb proxy buying, including far better alcohol education and regional partnership working.

Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, stated: “Tackling underage income of alcohol is a essential priority for the industry and this report demonstrates great progress is currently being manufactured thanks to Challenge 25. Nevertheless, as alcohol has become increasingly hard for youthful men and women to buy immediately, there has been a worrying boost in proxy purchasing. More requirements to be done in partnership with government, schools and other individuals to tackle this developing dilemma as it is an problem that retailers are unable to tackle on their own.”

Overall health groups expressed their concern. Emily Robinson, deputy chief executive of Alcohol Concern, mentioned: “It really is encouraging to see the amount of young people drinking has fallen, but worrying trends nevertheless continue to be and they need to be tackled. Mothers and fathers frequently think that by purchasing their kids alcohol to drink at property, they are introducing them to wise drinking, or preventing them from drinking outdoors the house. In reality, the evidence demonstrates that the ideal issue parents can do is to give kids an alcohol-totally free childhood.”

Supermarket personnel abused for refusing to promote to underage drinkers report