Five Financial Costs of American Obesity

This is directed at no one in particular, just my own observations from a person that is being deemed by society as obese: WARNING... IF YOU ARE NOT FAT, THIS MAY NOT MAKE SENSE TO YOU. (Come on, lighten up, that was some sarcasm)

I was reading a study a couple months ago about how 8 out of 10 woman would rather die than be overweight. Does anyone else find that alarming?! I find it sad. Well, sad, silly, and illogical. How obsessed is this country? Are we really that self centered? Because that is what I was thinking when I first read it.

After reading it, though, it got me thinking. The one thing I find disturbing about all of this is that being "overweight" or obese is the biggest form of acceptable discrimination practiced in our society today. I can not argue with scientific fact, so I won't. I understand the uses of the study and why they choose to report it, but there is a bigger picture here. Why is is that you can no longer discriminate on race, color, creed, gender, abilities, etc but if I am walking down the street minding my own business there are many people that feel the need to comment on me or the fact that I have a weight issue. Why is that anyone else's business but mine. I get it. I am not "perfect". What is ideal? There are reasons why we are all different. That includes, again, race, color, gender, creed, and yes size. So, please understand, the next time you see someone that is "overweight", obese, or just not up to your individual standards, please keep you comments to yourself. I do enough judging of myself everyday. I am not ignorant. I do understand why and how I got this way. No, I don't blame society or any other reason. I take responsibilty for it, but it is not your place nor your right to point it out to me. Every day is a struggle and it is people that have never had to endure that struggle that have no clue what is it like. For those who have been there, i find it funny how you are so easily changed in your mind set when you become an "after". All of a sudden they seem to get a mentality of "well I did it, they can too. And, if they don't they are just lazy." Just remember you got take all the time you wanted to change your size. It didn't happen overnight for your I'm sure and it will not for me either. How quickly you seem to change your stripes to become just as judgemental.

After all of this, if you take away one thing from this... just stop. Stop being so mean. Start by helping. Help a friend become more active. Help a friend to make smarter choices, but only if they ask or show an interest. Stop assuming you know better and are better than people that are "overweight" and obese. After all, this is all subjective. We could keep arguing about this until the end of time. Bottom line is that we as a nation need to become healthier, but being rude and nasty about it will only make things worse. Stop treating us like we have the plague.

as a male who should weigh 200, and is 280, get bent. There are many reasons to be overweight, stress, medical conditions, and the overall liking of good food. The only thing this story accomplishes is to reiterate that all fat people suck. Well thanks, its not like we dont know how the whole world feels allready. Why dont we talk about something that matters to the world, not what matters to a bunch of ego maniacs who happen to be there ideal size. just ask them

Two of the largest purveyors of childhood obesity, Coca-Cola and McDonalds. try to improve their image by sponsoring the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee, in turn, is eerily silent about children-related scandals, such as He Kexin being too young to compete on the Chinese woman's gymnastics team. Nasty vicious circle.

A new study was just completed which has proven that heart risks for thin an fat are nearly the SAME. *gasp* Imagine that! You can read a synoposis of the study in a MSNBC article here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26143255/ and for those that can actually read and comprehend in more depth you can do as I did and write and ask for a copy of the complete study of Mary Fran Sowers, PhD Professor, Dept. of Epidemiology mfsowers@umich.edu It is called "metabolic obesity" and she sent it to me most expeditiously.

I for one think that the key to avoiding obesity is to stay away from fast food restaurants all together...I gave them up just 3 weeks ago and have lost 7 pounds and I'm hardly starving. I make all of my meals at home (yes, I have a full-time job and work some extra evenings). I pack a lunch pail full of healthy things the night before. I've saved money and lost weight and I don't even miss the greasy fried stuff

Obesity is a sickness much like other addictions. However, it is each individual's responsibility to combat the "disease." It's simply a matter of self-control and honesty. Unless obese people are willing to truly look themselves in the mirror and decide that being thin is better than the very best hamburger, they will always be large. They should NOT get special favors because they choose a heavy lifestyle.

Here are 5 associated with being not fat:
1)Getting hit by cars while out jogging
2)Dying on treadmills and of random heart attacks while trying to be 'healthy" (Tim Russert, Isaac Hayes, Jim Fixx, etc) and sneering that this is an exception and doesn't count (obviously!), even though it happens every day in every community.
3)Succumbing to pneumonia and cancers because the body is on the border of starvation (Jim Henson, etc.)
4)Doing your best not to enjoy life, and succeeding
5)Adding 10 years to your hateful, circumscribed, mean, Scroogelike life, where 20% of your waking moments were spent like a rat in pain (remember, no gain! push it! push it!)

I myself am average weight, but I've known many many overweight people who are happy and many fitness freaks who are chronic sourpusses. On the whole, I'd rather spend time with a fat person than a skinny one - they are just more fun, and seem to enjoy life. Sorry if fat and jolly bugs you, but that is Santa Claus, Bacchus, The Buddha, etc. Nasty string beans are often villains in the movies for a reason. Because they hate life and hate anyone who enjoys it. THAT is the real reason you inveigh against 'fat". Because it demonstrates abundance, indulgence, and (god forbid!) hedonism because you secretly long for it in your sad self-hateful trapped little lives. Fezziwig would still invite you to have a good time though, Scrooge! There's still time.

Before everyone gets their panties in a bunch, why don't you at the topic in a different angle. If you do this, you'll see fat people come out ahead when it comes to all-you-can-eat buffets and extra large clothing. Cha-ching ring one up for the fatties.

This is the stupidest list of 5 things I've ever seen! If you want to hate on fat people, do it with some common sense. Let's see... who costs more - one single fat person, or one family of 5? How about, one fat person vs. one person on WELFARE. Your priorities are effed up!