Why Women Lose Weight—or Don’t

I understand what this study is saying. I am a 15 year old girl that can't fit in to all clothes lines. I have to got to special stores to find things to wear. All skinny women are bitches to think that if you see a fat girl or guy that they should put them down. this goes for guys to who are skinny. the *** with all skinny people they are asses. they put the fat people like us down, they think that we don't have feelings. guess what asses we do.

I understand what this study is saying. I am a 15 year old girl that can't fit in to all clothes lines. I have to got to special stores to find things to wear. All skinny women are bitches to think that if you see a fat girl or guy that they should put them down. this goes for guys to who are skinny. the *** with all skinny people they are asses. they put the fat people like us down, they think that we don't have feelings. guess what asses we do.

As mean as I do sound, I want to clarify that my two best friends are both obese. I love them, whatever size they are. They're hearts and souls are beautiful, but their obesity is not.

no one should ever be judged by the way they look. Just because someone is overweight doesnt mean their a bad person.

Fat is not beautiful! It is dangerous, unsightly and life threatening. People only believe that fat is normal because they have given up trying! Get a life and lose the hideous extra kilos before it puts you in an oversize coffin wedged into an oversize grave! Yeuk!

Please, please, please quit using BMI as a measure of obesity! If all women with a BMI of 25 or higher were really overweight, then those of us who actually have some amount of muscle would be considered fat. I have about 21% body fat, wear clothing in sizes 4 - 10 depending on the brand, and I fall into the overweight category according to BMI. Not everybody has the same frame, amount of muscle and shape and trying to measure health in a single manner is innacurate.

I just want to add that I'm sick of sitting next to obese people on planes. Their huge bodies push over into my space, and I have to sit hunched up with my elbows sticking into my ribs to make room for them. They're "happy" with their bodies, but I'm miserable with their bodies. They should have to buy two seats.

Being fat is neither "beautiful" nor desirable from a health or societal standpoint. Obese women with positive views of their bodies are in denial, victims of the 90s' campaign whose message was "we love our bodies, no matter what." There is a huge gap between being model-thin and obese; within that gap is a healthy weight. In most cases, people are obese because they lack the will power to take care of themselves.

Being fat is neither "beautiful" nor desirable from a health standpoint. Obese women with positive body images are in denial, victims of the campaign that says it's okay to be overweight. There's a huge gap between being model-thin and obese, and no one should confuse the issue by saying being fat is "normal."

I do not believe BMI to be completely accurate. If someone lifts weights or has a toned physique, it will through off the BMI. Muscle weighs more than fat. I've seen from personal experience, losing muscle tone and losing pounds. In my opinion, I'd rather be toned with muscle pounds then flabby and a few pounds lighter.

I'd also like to add that I've seen first hand the medical problems associated with being overweight or obese, many of my clients have had problems, especially as they age. While a person who is overweigh may have a good perception of themself (which I do think is great, everyone should be happy with themselves), they should consider what health problems could affect them down the road.

I personally do not agree at all with people accepting fat as the new "normal". Yes, in America especially, people are gaining weight and there are more obese and overweight people then ever before, but just because it is a high percentage of the population does not mean it should be considered normal. The availability of food and the convenience of everything makes gaining weight more likely now, but it's still not good for anyone. Humans were designed to be at their lowest body wieght or BMI without being underweight. Your bones and joints are not designed to carry around all of the extra weight, and your heart is not designed to be clogged with plaque and fat and still have to pump blood to more of you, and still function perfectly. I don't want to sound like I'm not sympathetic or that I dont understand what people deal with, becuase I have many family members who are overweight and some of them have medical conditions that either put them in that position, or are that inhibit them from losing weight. However, it's not hard to eat a healthy diet, low in sodium and saturated fats and sugars. If you're an adult, you can buy your own groceries and you alone can decide what goes into your body, and how much you move. What makes me so sad is the fact that there are so many kids that are overwieght now, when kids are normally leaner than adults becuase they run around and play so much, but now kids sit inside with video games and are addicted to sugary snacks and fast food, and it's extremely sad.

I do want girls and everyone to be happy with their bodies--it was a good point made that if a girl is happy she might slowly lose the weight. But on the same hand, if she's happy with it she might not want to lose the weight, and thats not healthy. Basically, i think that everyone should try to lead a healthy life, physically and emotionally, and yes, love yourself, but love yourself to the point that you want your body to be as healthy as you are able to make it.

I understand what InControl is saying and agree. We all make choices and when they're bad, we make excuses for them. So when someone is large and doesn't do something about it, that's their choice. They make excuses how they're tired or they're fat so might as well be fat, etc etc. No one should be told they need to be skinnier but they do need to be told that if they are obese to the point of it being fatal, that they need to lose weight. No one should be a size zero. But if you are overweight and choose to be overweight, that's your choice, your excuse. But for the love of God, don't continue to be overweight because you're trying to make a point that you don't need to be skinny. We should all love our bodies for what they are. Especially for women who have had kids. Our bodies are never the same after that. But enjoy life and be healthy. Do it for yourself or do it for your loved ones! Let's stop making excuses about what happened to us in the past. Forget the past. Focus on the future!!

I understand what InControl is saying and agree. We all make choices and when they're bad, we make excuses for them. So when someone is large and doesn't do something about it, that's their choice. They make excuses how they're tired or they're fat so might as well be fat, etc etc. No one should be told they need to be skinnier but they do need to be told that if they are obese to the point of it being fatal, that they need to lose weight. No one should be a size zero. But if you are overweight and choose to be overweight, that's your choice, your excuse. But for the love of God, don't continue to be overweight because you're trying to make a point that you don't need to be skinny. We should all love our bodies for what they are. Especially for women who have had kids. Our bodies are never the same after that. But enjoy life and be healthy. Do it for yourself or do it for your loved ones! Let's stop making excuses about what happened to us in the past. Forget the past. Focus on the future!!

It's amazing how we can justify self-induced problems. It's unhealthy and unattractive. If you like the way the fat rolls jiggle when you walk, then you should be happy, but don't tell me I should like it too. If you lack self-control, self-displine and self-respect thats your problem don't make it mine. Yet when your health fails, you develop diabetis, you develop joint problems, high blood pressure you expect everyone else to pay for it through insurance premiums. Now you want to tell me that its normal to be fat. Its not normal, its abnormal face it and deal with it. Stop blaming your weight problem on everybody or everything and take responsibility for yourself. While its true that a VERY SMALL percentage actually have medical conditions that may contribute that is the exception. Stop making excuses and do the things that will keep you around the people that love you longer. Your obesity is robbing them of time with you on this earth. Your obesity hurts those around you. Yes, its your choice and your body but that sure sounds selfish to me. Maybe thats the part of the problem to start with.

Ok honestly, I'm sixteen years old. I'm 5'1" and I weight 158lbs. I don't think that's normal, I feel fat, but it's doesn't bother me. What does bother me is listening to people say "oh Im fat I need to lose weight" when they are 100 lbs. Not all people who are above 200 pounds sit on their butt and eat french fries, and tons of boxes of debbie cakes every single day. Some people just eat what they want, and cant get it off like people with a fast motabolism. So I really dont see the point in trying to sterotype people that are over weight. Not every person does the same thing that everyone else does. Our society isn't accepting being fat because we like being fat. People are accepting it because if that's how people want to be, then let them be that way.