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Newsweek readers dive, climb and pedal out of out of obesity stereotypes

Who says you can't be fat and fit? A lot of people, actually. When we ran our article "Fat and Healthy: Why It's Possible," a lot of angry readers demanded to see one fat person who could climb a mountain, or run a marathon, or show any signs of athleticism. (Fat people, they seemed to think, spend all their time at buffets and sitting next to you on airplanes).  So we asked readers to send in pictures of them being heavy and healthy, and were inundated from examples from all across the country. Are all fat people athletic? No. But neither are all skinny people. The point is, weight doesn't preclude the ability to put one's body to work in fun and challenging ways. Read on to see real-life examples of readers who are overweight, but still living life to the fullest.

 
 
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Member Comments

  • Posted By: EastcoastHockeyGirl @ 10/16/2009 6:57:07 PM

    Jaebourn, it's sad that you say you've "been on the other side" of obesity and still make comments like that. I'm the type of person you "wouldn't want to sit next to on a plane" (presumably because I require a seat belt extender in that ridiculously tiny seat that I pay an arm and a leg for) and I bike to and from work every day (a 24km round trip!). The purpose of this photo essay is to dispel negative stereotypes like yours. Clearly there's more work to be done if someone who's actually been fat can still hold those types of views.

  • Posted By: thepragmatist @ 09/21/2009 8:58:57 PM

    jaebourn - The reason why we think we are fat is because every time we fill out a form, at work, for insurance, at the doctor's office, we are told we are "overweight", "obese", even "morbidly obese". I am a size 10-12, I am healthy, happy, fit, and obese. I have great blood pressure, cholesterol, no diabetes. When you read about the "Obesity Epidemic", the newpaper may pick a photo of a 400 pound woman, but don't be fooled. They are talking about me. That is why these pics are important - not only is it important to know that 400 lb women can be fit and have perfect form in yoga, it's also important to know that this epidemic that we are constantly being taught to fear is made up of people that "look fine to you".

  • Posted By: jaebourn @ 09/21/2009 1:48:39 PM

    Um, the majority of these are NOT photos of fat people - perhaps these folks think that because they aren't a size 4 they are fat? The people we don't want to sit next to us on planes and trains would not be able to sit on a bicycle because they are too wide and take up 1 1/2 seats! Most of the folks in these pics look just fine to me (and I am a size 6, and a former size 24, so I've been on both sides).

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