Gigantia, Part Four

Demographic changes

Like people everywhere, Giganteans love their labour-saving devices - they make life easier, and they greatly reduce the need for hard physical labour - a point of great interest to Giganteans, as lower physical exertion generally makes for more weight gain - which Giganteans are very happy about! There's no fussing about a supposed 'obesity epidemic' for the men of Gigantia!

"Obesity? Bring it on!!"

Thanks to advances in labour-saving devices, most Gigantean men no longer need to walk any distance in their daily lives, either for work or recreation; nor do they need to do the heavy labour that formerly led to the social selection of physically larger, more powerful males in Gigantia.

Climbing stairs, pushing carts, lifting and carrying heavy things - all these physical exertions are being steadily eliminated in Gigantia. In other countries, this is blamed for part of global 'obesity epidemic' that the medical folks moan about. Around the world, the average man is heavier than ever before - and nowhere moreso than in Gigantia, where the mix of labour saving measures and the Gigantean Male Mass Stipend (which gives all men a financial incentive to grow) have become a potent combo - Gigantean men and boys are getting fatter, faster than anywhere else!

"Male obesity? Bring it on!!"

There are side effects to the rapidly growing average mass and fatness of Gigantean men - effects that are multiplied by an increasingly sedentary lifestyle.

Chief among these is a considerable shortening of Gigantean male life expectancy. While average male size is rising quickly in Gigantia, average male life expectancy is falling - from 65 years in the early ‘70s, to 52 years now. It's not that there are no longer any older Gigantean men - no, the rising death rate is generally spread across all age groups. The one statistically noticeable exception is a spike in the death rate of guys in their 40s who have topped 700 pounds. This weight is quite 'socially desireable' but also carries real risks!

As elsewhere, Gigantean researchers have found a solid correlation between greater longevity and greater physical activity - those with physically active jobs, or active in sports, live longer on average, than their more sedentary brethren of similar weights. Sumos, for example, live longer at their higher 'fighting weights' - 600, 700, 800 pounds - than other Gigantean men of those sizes.

The fattest of the sedentary supersized computer programmers, radio hosts, and video game jockeys seem to keel over the soonest - it's these guys who, topping 700 pounds in their 40s, who are keeling over in the greatest numbers. The causative factor seems to be cardiac health of these monster men - the heart, being a muscle, needs to be used to remain strong. A sedentary lifestyle doesn't use the heart much!

Of course, pumping blood around a bigger body is a harder job than in a smaller frame, and Gigantean medical researchers have noticing that male life expectancy and weight are correlated - expected remaining lifespan correlates closely to when certain weight plateaus (BMIs) are achieved. For example, the average Gigantean male will live 8 years from the point at which he achieves 1000 pounds, 17 years from the time when he reaches 800 pounds, and so on. There is an asymmetric Bell curve in the figures thus far, with a large standard deviation, but the trend is clear, and the figures good enough for insurance and statistical purposes. (How large is that standard deviation? Quite large, nearly 7 years at the 1000 pound level and almost 15 years for the 800 pound level; clearly some Gigantean men do have bodies strong enough to live quite long times at virtuoso weights!)

The effects of regular exercise on longevity and quality of life are strong enough that exercise is now recommended for all Gigantean males. Many, though, don't care, as the higher death rate for sedentary 40-somethings makes obvious. This truth is acknowledged, though, in the black humour of the '800 by 18' Clubs - including in their music. The old American favourite "Here for a good time, not a long time" has just been covered by a band very popular with the "800 by 18" demographic. The band's name? "Negligible Lifespan".

Heart failure is the leading cause of early death among the largest Gigantean men, and Gigantean cardiologists are among the leaders in looking for a surgical solution to this - an implantable heart replacement. While the early Norvik artificial hearts were bulky and short lived - especially when trying to push blood around in a jumbo Gigantean male - the latest cardiac turbines are looking very promising. One leading cardiologist has described a future when many, if not all males who exhibit any signs of heart trouble will have their hearts replaced routinely with cardiac turbines. She has even speculated that it might become a routine for any man who reaches a certain weight to have a new heart implanted, to help with mobility and longevity, regardless of the status of the original heart. (Of course, said cardiologist is married to one of Gigantia's larger sumos....)

Tourism

Gigantia is rapidly becoming a tourist destination for the fat folks of other nations, especially North America and the Middle East. Gigantia is a place where all fat people can feel at ease, regardless of their size. Japanese sumo wrestlers can be seen on holidays, checking out the beaches, as can fat Arabs and obese Americans. Even though many of the visiting Americans would qualify for immigration (see earlier installments), most do not want to move to Gigantia, just to enjoy a respite in a fat-friendly, fat-positive environment.

Should a visiting 400 pound American guy want to play volleyball on the beach, or relive his days as a football hero, or a 300 pound American woman decide to wear a thong bikini like her skinny sister back home, they will be perfectly at ease and comfortable, because they are surrounded by other fat people who are even larger than they, and who enjoying doing the same things. The American former college volleyball star who has ballooned to 400 pounds may well find that, when he decides to join in a pick-up game on the beach, he is the lightest player on the sand lot! Said 'fat' Yankee may well be up against guys who outweigh him by 200 or 300 pounds - a team of six 600 pound volleyball players makes for a slower, but visually very exciting game - and there are always female Gigantean fans watching and cheering the players in such pick-up games!

Lots of retired American football players who have “blimped” far beyond their old playing weights enjoy playing a game or two in the recreational Gigantean football leagues as a way to relive their past glory days, and demonstrate their “football form” to their wives and children. As recreational Gigantean football is similar to “arena football” in the USA, with smaller fields, less running, etc., it is easy for these retired heavyweights to “cover the field” as they once did - and even if they have grown to 500 pounds or more, they will be outweighed by most of their 'new;' Gigantean teammates!

The 300 pound thong wearing American beauty will feel more beautiful as she is flirted with and pursued by confident, super-husky super-studly Gigantean guys, perhaps also in thongs or at least in speedos, who will be packing double or even triple her avoirdupois. She will never need to feel ashamed of her appetite when eating in public, as she might in the USA, as the massive Gigantean stud she’s at her side will have an appetite far larger than hers. While enjoying life with her Gigantean playboy, she can order big, rich meals confidently, or even indulge in “all you can eat” buffets, knowing that her date will always outeat her (unless, of course, she doesn’t want him to - Gigantean men are very accommodating, and all can afford to miss a meal or two!).

Clothing shopping for fat visitors is a relaxing experience, with shop clerks who truly understand the clothes needs of their fat visitors; in fact the clerks probably outweigh their visiting foreign clientele. The Gigantean garment industry makes full use of Gigantia’s CAD/CAM manufacturing base to turn out beautifully fitted clothes for the largest tourists. Of course, all the latest styles are available -either the real thing or as clever knock-offs, so trendy super-sized young Americans, such as rap stars, can stock up on the latest Phat Farm, Tommy ('half-tonner') or Point Zero while in Gigantia on their holidays.

Both beefed-up and well-fattened "Beach bums" are available to act as guides, and to service both female tourists and gay tourists. The ones in most demand seem to be the ones on the two extremes of fattening - the heavily muscled lightweights (350-450 pounds) and the fattest heavyweights (800 pounds plus).

Well fattened young Arab sheikhs are the latest arrivals in Gigantia. Most come for the holiday relaxation in a size-friendly, privacy-respecting atmosphere. One such prince, however, famed for his avoirdupois before arrival, was sent to a Gigantean fat farm by his father in the mistaken belief that he would somehow loose some of his 450 pounds. Instead, in sixteen weeks of “intense treatment” at a Gigantean fat spa, he ballooned to more than 600 pounds, and returned home bearing honourary Gigantean citizenship!


The Movie and TV industries

Movies where the studly 1200 pound hero strips to his undies, and every woman in the house gets feels a sensuous rush. Television shows in which the boyfriends pig out in almost every scene, and all their girlfriends want to do is feed them more. This is the image that the Gigantean film and television industry would like to project, the way they would like to be seen. Gigantean male reality may seem extreme to many visitors, but the movie view of the ideal Gigantean male is even further ‘out there’ - just like the guts of its heroes.

While small, Gigantean movie and TV industry has to provide films and entertainment to suit a people whose heroes do not fit the “slender, muscular” model popular with Hollywood. Slender men in Gigantia are regarded as losers, at best - Tom Cruise could be cast in Gigantia as a villain, but not as a good guy. Some shows are clearly adaptations of, or inspired by, popular Western hits, but there is a decent-sized Gigantean film community as well. Movie titles are often revealing of an audience’s tastes; its worth noting that recent Gigantean big-screen hits include: “Big as a House” pts I and II; “Cold Spot: Breakout”; “No Gut, No Glory”, parts 1-3, and “Buffet Encounter - a love story”.


The most popular Gigantean leading man today is ‘Randy’, a former footballer and wrestler who, at 915 pounds, is registered as a “Hero”- ranked sumo wrestler but by special Sumo League dispensation spends much of his time on movie shoots. His acting career has included a number of roles has played a number of roles, but he is most famous for his recurring role as a memorable superhero called “The Incredible Bulk”. Many Gigantean women remember him fondly as Tony, in a Gigantean big-screen adaptation of “West Side Story”. As Tony, his life was in danger from rival gangs because of his prowess at beating their champions in eating contests - and in the midst of this conflict he falls in love with a girl whose brother leads a rival gang.

Tony's current role, “The Incredible Bulk,” is a most memorable and remarkable superhero . Although the name would suggest a connection to the “The Incredible Hulk” of Marvel fame, “The Incredible Bulk” doesn’t change size or skin colour - though he does grow, from time to time! Randy has enjoyed great success with this series, whose plots generally follow well-known paths. The highlights of the plots of these action movies always present the hero’s great weight, tremendous strength, and/or immense appetite as the saving factor of the day, though plot devices such as:

1. The Incredible Bulk jumps onto the landing struts of the villains’ helicopter, whereupon his great weight overloads it, causing it not to take off (or to crash);

2. Tied up in the back of the villains’ truck, The Incredible Bulk rolls against one side of the truck while it is rounding a sharp curve; his great weight shifts the truck’s centre of balance, causing it to fall over from centrifugal force;

3. By jumping up and down inside the villain’s truck, The Incredible Bulk makes the springs break and the frame collapse down around the wheels, causing the truck to drag to a halt;

4. By jumping up and down in the sealed room where he and the heroine have been imprisoned, The Incredible Bulk’s great weight smashes through the floor and he and the heroine escape;

5. By taking repeated runs at the door/walls of the cabin where he and the heroine are imprisoned, The Incredible Bulk is able use the enormous momentum that comes with his great weight to burst through them;

6. Using his vast strength, The Incredible Bulk bends the kidnappers’ guns into useless pretzels, and then with his great weight he jumps up and down on their handguns, crushing and ruining them;

7. The kidnappers plan to hole up for 10 days with their captives, but The Incredible Bulk breaks his way into their stores and, thanks to his immense appetite, eats their entire food supply and drinks their entire water supply in one day, forcing them to surrender early;

8. The Incredible Bulk is imprisoned in a walk-in freezer, but because of his vast body size and huge internal heat generation, he does not chill quickly. Because of his immense appetite, driven further by his need to stay warm, he eats 250+ pounds of the frozen foods per day. Also to help keep warm, he takes runs at the walls of the freezer, and the impact of his great weight in these collisions causes the wall’s rivets to slowly fail under the impact (or he exercises by pulling on the freezer machinery and hanging from the pipes with his great weight and tremendous strength, causing them to leak and fail) so he (is found when the freezer stops working and the alarms go off, or when the freezer wall fails from too many impacts and) escapes;

9. While trying to rescue the trapped heroine, The Incredible Bulk is captured and his hands are tied to a ceiling beam; by using his tremendous strength he is able to lift his feet off the floor, whereupon his great weight makes the ceiling beam buckle and collapse, letting the heroine escape. His great weight is able to similarly collapse a wall beam in another program.

10. He leaps out of a fifth storey window onto some scaffolding directly above the bad guys; the scaffolding collapses under his great weight, killing them.


Another superhero in Gigantean comics, especially popular among fat and superfat male teens, is the “Flabinator”, who is a more traditional superhero, in that he changes when he engages his superpower - and his superpower is that he can 'gutmaxx' (expand his gut) at will! The Flabinator began in comic books, then moved on to animated shorts; soon the first Flabinator live action film will be in production. There is much rivalry for the lead role, which requires a young actor with magnetic looks and a massive low-hanging belly roll - in non-superhero mode, the Flabinator already has an epic sized belly, which be further enhanced by the movies’ software magicians; starting with a super sagging belly helps them get the swing right. When not in superhero mode, the Flabinator appears to be a man in the 800-1000 pound class, but of the heavy-gutted, bottom heavy sort, with the aforementioned massive low-hanging belly roll - in superhero mode, his gut expands, well, heroically!

As a comic book hero, however, the Flabinator’s image is much emulated already, especially among the superfat teen males, many of whom have Flabinator costumes for parties. (The best Flabinator costumes include an inflatable gut with air pump to enlarge and shrink it on demand.) The Flabinator’s bouncing, extensible-on-command low-rider 'maxxgut' is the chief source of his superpowers.

When not in superhero mode, the Flabinator’s gut severely impedes his mobility; he has a unicycle support wheel which he puts under his gut overhang to assist him to move around. He also tends to rest his gut overhang on things (tables, chair backs, railings) whenever he is not moving about, to help support its great weight. Of course, the tables, railings etc. occasionally fall apart under his gut’s crushing weight - which is as nothing compared to its oppressing mass when the Flabinator is in superhero mode.

In superhero mode, the Flabinator can 'gutmaxx' - expand his gut to 'monstrous size' - at will. How big is 'monstrous'? Probably in the two to three ton range, though some of the cartoon tales stories would suggest upwards of ten tons - and as part of 'gutmaxxing' the Flabinator gains the ability not only to carry such a mass, but to direct it, shape it, and control its movement. He often uses his 'maxxgut' it as a battering ram, or lifts it on top of an item (like a car or a computer) that must be crushed. He has also used his superhero gut as a roadblock - in this mode, it appears his gut may well be able to exceed ten tons.

As well, in superhero mode, the Flabinator is able to ingest vast quantities of liquids and loose solids - naturally, he prefers food, but this is not always the case - and hold these in his belly. Such intake adds further to the mass of his belly, and is either digested if food (which leaves some permanent gain effect in non-superhero mode) or expelled if not food.

Another comic book hero in Gigantia who may someday make the leap to the big screen is “Superfatman”. Since his arrival in Gigantia from Krypton, the comic portrayal of Superfatman has grown from merely enormous (900 pounds) to truly titanic (at least a ton). He's been heard to remark that no-one with super-strength and the ability to fly is ever truly 'immobile'.

In media and style circles, a cartoon character called "The Flabster" often introduces new fashions. Design House 'Blubberwear', tag line 'For the Fatso in all of us,' regularly pays for issues of 'The Flabster' to highlight its up and coming releases. Blubberwear's chief designer loves her hugely fat husband and outrageously fat sons, and aims her designs right at the biggest of Gigantean males. When 'The Flabster' is introducing Blubberwear fashions, his image is modified to look like one of the Blubberwear designer's menfolk.

Future explorations :

Gigantean scientists researching various topics under the general heading of “how to maximize future-male-mass”. These include:

• theoretical and practical maximum weights for men of various heights and body types; including considerations of various degrees of immobility (BMI is not always a good predictor of maximal weight!)
• how best to increase the male mass carrying capacity, including considerations such as degree and types of exercise and mobility training, eating and growth training plans in both boyhood and manhood, early or later gains, rapidity of gains, and genetics - both breeding and genetic engineering
• how to extend the male life span at highest weights - medically, through lifestyle changes, and by genetics
• studying the effect of changing growth patterns of males, including the societal push for rapid early gains, a consideration of delayed or later gains, and the effect of the steepness and continuity of the growth curve on maximum weight and longevity


Among the specific, focussed research currently underway are trials in the following areas:

• using anti-cholesterol drugs to deal with the artery clogging effects of the high-fat Gigantean diet (a diet which is actually getting fatter, as average Gigantean male caloric consumption increases), including to reduce heart troubles. The next item is related.

• the use of artificial hearts to better able to cope with the high pumping and arterial loads of an active, hugely fat Gigantean man. While reducing cardiac artery clogging was the aim for a long time, now replacement of the heart completely with a cardiac turbine is the new approach. (see: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/no-pulse-how-doctors-reinvented-the-human-hea...)

• Some researchers have suggested that, in the future, routine replacement of men's heart with cardiac turbines will be common. Former Kings, with their extreme weights and (often) shortened lifespans, are being recruited as test volunteers for cardiac turbine implantation.

• A couple of the "800 by 18" lads have demanded that they be given artificial hearts too!

• the role of various hormones including testosterone, in male growth and fat distribution

• the use of human growth hormone in growing boys to increase the size and strength of skeleton and basic muscular system, to allow carrying more weight later in life

• dietary modifications to promote growth and health.

• the effect of new exercises and exercise systems on mobility, health, and growth. Swimming has not been a common activity in Gigantia in the past; it's potential to improve the health of the huge is now being seriously explored. Some health experts and educators have suggested that mandatory swim classes be added to the Gigantean school curriculum.


Our tour of Gigantia ends here, for now. See "GIgantean Rock Band" for an in-depth look at how Gigantean's ideals have played out in one small field of endeavour. If you have ideas or questions about how Gigantia might grow, send 'em to me! Good ideas will get thanks, and even gift points.