'Morbidly obese' traveller gets advice about visiting S'pore: 'MRT and bus seats not made for XL-sized'
What is it like to be fat in Singapore?
A self-described "morbidly obese" person coming to Singapore went to Reddit looking for recommendations and the responses reveal some of the challenges faced by the plus-sized in the Lion City.
The Redditor did not mention what country he is from but disclosed that he is 1.78m tall and weighs about 177kg.
He started a thread in the askSingapore subreddit on Feb 27 with the title "Morbidly obese person travelling to Singapore".
He wrote: 'I am visiting Singapore in May. I am very socially anxious. I am completely aware of my size and do not want to inconvenience anyone while travelling.
"Do you have any recommendations for me when travelling to Singapore? Things I should/shouldn't do?"
Many of the replies warned about Singapore's hot and humid climate and suggested ways to deal with it, such as getting a portable fan.
Others warned about the size of seats on public transport and in some eateries.
One netizen suggested: "If you are physically able, like I was at the time, you might want to avoid sitting in the MRT and on the buses unless it is quite empty. I did this all the time to avoid the issue of someone not having enough space to sit near you."
Someone offered a different perspective: "Although if the trains/bus are crowded, people will just sit next to you anyway, so dont be offended if you feel like you are being 'squeezed'."
Another commenter added: "Yeah, the MRT and bus seats are not made for the XL-sized of us. You'd definitely be more comfy in a ride-share. Unless you go during off-peak/non-rush hour periods when there is ample space."
A Redditor advised: "Research the places you're going to beforehand. Some popular spots (eg Yakun for breakfast) get you eating shoulder to shoulder with strangers, and have tiny stools for tiny butts. Other places may have chairs with constrictive arm rests. Anyway, aim to eat outside of peak hours if you want to avoid crowds.
"On escalators we stand on the left and let people pass on the right. During busy times, maybe take the elevator if you're self-conscious about blocking the way."
Someone recommended using the "extra-wide" automatic fare collection gates, meant for wheelchair users and people with strollers, in the MRT stations.
Another netizen commented: "There will also be handicapped-friendly toilets readily available in almost every floor in a mall, if you need guard rail assistance or a larger cubicle, you should consider using those. You may get a side-eye but know that if you require those aids, you have every right to use the handicapped toilets."
Speaking of side-eye, a few netizens also warned about possible fat-shaming, particularly from "aunties".
A commenter said: "People will likely stare, not just because of your weight, but because of your height and your race, and some aunties will tell you that you need to lose weight and stuff like that, so be prepared to not take them to heart."
Someone else added: "As a local who is in the average body size range, I would tell you to expect the stares and blunt remarks. We seem to be a very stressed out nation that feels the need to comment on everything."
Another Redditor concurred: "Agree on the bluntness. People will comment on shape and size, but it's mostly non-malicious. Please do not think of it as body shaming."
Several people disagreed about the non-maliciousness.
One person said: "I kinda think most people have bad intentions. We are brought up with 'fat is bad' in school and in the family. People are staring with disapproval, not curiosity."
Another netizen commented: "They definitely have bad intentions. But that's just how it is. Asians are smaller, so if you're slightly overweight as a Westerner, it can be very big for an Asians eye. So it's hard to avoid attention."
One formerly overweight person shared his own experience: "I used to be morbidly obese too, but haven't really had unpleasant encounters. Only once someone said that I had gotten fat straight to my face."
In response, the Redditor who started the thread said: "Thank you for your honesty and advice. I was going to expect some remarks as I have experienced them in my home country before as well.
"However, I wouldn't let this ruin my experience or change my views on the nation. Thank you for your support. I look forward to visiting."
