I feel your pain. And no, it isn't fair. It sucks and it's a bunch of crap. I get sick if I'm in an in environment 65 degrees or lower all day long. I have to wear sweaters inside even in summer. It's crap. =P

Maybe you could mention to your boss that it's wasting a lot of company money by keeping the AC on 65 and lower. Look up some info about how much can be saved by going up to 70. Then suggest getting small, plastic portable fans for those who want them. It's a lot cheaper than running the AC that low all day.

No its not you guys should be able to come to some kind of agreement in temperatures, anything under 76 degrees to me is absurd.

Nobody is ever satisfied with the temperature in their office. It's always too hot or too cold for somebody. Be thankful that it's too cold for you because you can always put on another layer. I'm usually too hot (I'm not morbidly obese) and all I can do is sweat and be uncomfortable.

Bring in a portable heater for your area. Another option is to drink warm tea, coffee, or hot chocolate... that'll warm you up pretty quickly. They also sell pouches that you can break open and place in your boots, clothing, or gloves to keep you warm. Your coworkers could use the same argument if the temperature raised "is it fair that it's warm in here because the skinny people are too cold?" No one is ever comfortable at the same temperature... someone could think 70 degrees is freezing and some think it's sweltering... some may think it's just right. I think it's pretty sad if a winter coat cannot keep you warm in an air conditioned room? Do you live in a warm climate? Otherwise, I don't think you'd ever survive the winter. I guarantee you that there are skinny people that prefer cold air as well. It's not only the obese who have problems with warm weather, there are women in menopause who will go from hot-flash to freezing spell in a matter of minutes. In addition there are many medical problems where people cannot handle the warm air. I had my thyroid removed several years ago and some complications left me with a severe calcium deficiency... I cannot take the heat anymore. I've had heat stroke three times in four years and I was in "air-conditioned" rooms at the time... they just weren't cold enough. Don't blame obesity. Yes, it's true that individuals who are overweight often are warmer, but that's not the case every time. I know plenty of overweight people that run cool and are often wearing sweaters in the air-conditioning.

Perhaps it's time that you talk to management about solutions. It's probably pretty expensive to keep the thermostat that low with the air conditioning. Ask about raising the thermostat to 70 degrees, and purchasing fans that individuals can use to cool themselves down. Honestly, you can feel just as cool at 70 if you have a fan facing you... maybe even cooler. If they don't agree, then you should ask if you can bring in a portable heater to sit on your desk. If nothing else, layer your clothing... wear long underwear and thermal shirts under your work clothes, purchase fingerless gloves if you have to and wear those as well... management will get the point that a compromise needs to be made. Are you the only one in a down coat? If so, the problem may lie with you... not everyone else. Perhaps there's another office space they can move you to that can be kept warmer? My guess is that you're not friends with your co-workers since you called many of them "morbidly obese." If you would look past their weight and be friendly, I bet you could work out a compromise with them. If all else fails and your completely miserable... get a new job.

In some offices its supposedly illegal ( against fire code ) to have a portable heater under or even near your desk as the case was with a job I worked at years ago. Our office was actually in the basement of the hospital so it made it all the more cold.

My cube was right under the massive air vent.....I froze my butt off daily...even in the winter. When I first started working there two of the ladies had moved their cubes down one therefore leaving my cube open. In the winter the 2 ladies ( overweight ) used to get up and complain about how hot it was in the office and turn the heat off and turn the air on. All the other cubes were on the other side of the office and otherwise occupied so I had no choice but to stay where I was..in the arctic freeze. Come the summer it was insane.....sometimes it was turned down to 60 or 55.....I promise as well as I KNOW it was because as soon as they would leave for lunch Id rush over and turn it up down or totally off depending. The indoor climate was always an issue in the office but no one would speak up out of fear that the two ladies on my side of the office would get pissy with them. Our staff receptionist actually ordered a space heater for me to use and about a month into my using it one of the ladies complained and called home office saying that my tiny little heater in my cube was causing the entire office to overheat...lol..but......home office sent a notice around stating it was illegal..against fire code to have the heaters...so the ladies won and I froze. Hell they also had desk fans and would have them blasting full speed every day all day long. We had patients who would come in and remark about how cold it was in there and doctors as well would comment on the temps. Its very difficult to do anything with gloves on....even the fingerless ones.....also very difficult and uncomfortable to sit at a desk with multiple layers on and be productive. Drinking warm fluids is temporary.....I even resorted to wearing a hoodie on many occasions and one of my friends had given me one of those horrid snuggies specifically for the office and yes indeed I did bring it to work and wore it on some days but eventually was threatened to be written up for going against dress code......ugh. I feel for you I really do but unfortunately its a mute point. No one is ever going to be happy with the office climate.

I dont think you were being mean or racist in expressing your thoughts/feelings

Workplaces have to be of a certain temperature here in the UK by law.

Ugh, as a former office manager, I can tell you that no one is ever happy with the temperature. I used to buy "the cold" people personal space heaters and I myself kept a few sweaters in the office. I don't think there is a good answer to this - except, if your company won't buy you a space heater, get one from Home Depot for $15! it's a crappy situation.