Why Women Lose Weight—or Don’t

I will say that I am indeed overweight and it is, indeed, my fault and no one else's. If being overweight becomes the new "normal". people will be living shorter lives. Then, we'll definetely have problems.

Tax the Fat!!!
Its not ok to be fat.
America is lazy, its easier to be fat than it is to exercise, eat right and consume less.
Sell your suv and start walking
Save the planet and loose the extra person of fat on your back and start to enjoy life the way god intended you to. not fat

Burn the bridge. Nuke the foundation. Back yourself up against a wall. Have an opinion one way or the other, get off the fence and rip it up. Cut yourself off so there is no going back. Once you're committed the truth will come out. You ask about security? What you need is uncertainty. What you need is confusion; something that forces you to reinvent yourself, a whip to drive you harder.

"I never try anything - I just do it. Want to try me?
White Zombie, "Thunder Kiss"

In Dune, Frank Herbert called it "the attitude of the knife,??? cut off what's incomplete and say ???now it has finished, for it has ended there.??? So finish it, and walk away, forward. Only acts undertaken with commitment have meaning. Only your best effort matters. Life is a Meritocracy, with death as the auditor. Inconsistency, incompetence and lies are all cut short by that final word. Death will change you if you can't change yourself.

I think fat people need to curb their appetitles. I know it's hard but it can happen. I'd love to eat more but my husband shouldn't eat so I don't. Why don't you?

I believe that Obesity is a disease!!!!! I have been over weight for many years and I recently lost 77lbs thru diet and exercise. I believe that it is just as much as a disease as anorexia. The only difference is that those girls are skinny and excepted to were us "FAT" girls are not accepted.

WHAT EVERYONE ALL FAILS TO REALIZE IS THAT YOUR BODYS MUSCLE MASS IS ALSO A FACTOR IN THIS EQAUTION. AS YOU EXCERSSE YOU BUILD MUSCLE SO AS YOU LOSE WEIGHT YOU GAIN IT ALSO. JUST BECAUSE YOU WEIGH 210 LBS. DOESNT MEAN YOU ARE FAT. IT MAY BUT MORE THAN LIKELY YOUR HAVE MORE MUSCLE THEN YOU DO FAT. REGAURDLESS F WHAT "THEY"AY JUST BEAUSE YOU DONT FIT INTO A SIZE 2 OR 3 OR WHATEVER DOESNT MEAN YOU NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT YOUR BODYS BUILT DIFFERENT. YOUR HIPS MAY BE BIGGER OR YOUR THIGHES MIGHT HAVE MORE MUSCLE OR ANY OF THE VARIOUS POSSIBILLITIES. IF IT WHERE UP TO ME WE WOULDNT HAVE SIZES ON CLOTHES. FIND A PAIR THAT FITS AND LIVE WITH IT.

JOSH J

I am actually happy to read that most of the comments it seems are rational, honest and practical. I am very tired of hearing all of the excuses (particularly genetics) that people use to excuse away why they are overweight. I myself am overweight, and if you ask I will tell you exactly how I got that way. I do not exercise regularly, and I eat more than I need. I think one thing people will find when they actually start eating healthy is how little your body really needs to maintain itself. Much less than most people think because we are so used to the extra large portion sizes now. The person that said weight equals calories in vs. calories out is exactly right. If you feel you are eating a small amount, but are gaining weight, then you likely need 1, more exercise, or 2, really keep track of the calories you eat and find out if it is truly what you need. My concern is always what it does to the health of our nation and future generations. I heard a friend say about an obese 4 year old boy that it doesn't matter what he eats, he was born obese and will always be that way. What chance are we giving children by having that attitude? At least have enough personal responsibility to be able to admit that mistakes are made that lead to being overweight. There are many reasons people overeat, but the solution always remains to accept a change in lifestyle whether that is to seek counseling or start an exercise regime. I don't have any statistics, except for personal observation, but I think if we became healthier as a society we would have a stronger workforce and lower disability rates as well.

People who are thinner have higher social status! In his excellent book, 'CLASS', (all about the "forbidden" subject of the hidden class structures in America), author PAUL FUSELL, amongst his many witty remarks, states that getting thin is a chap way to rise in class. Ir's also healthier! No -- I'm not anorexic, (I presently weigh between 180-200 pounds), and once, when I was very thin, as a teen ager, my shoulder blades started to show, and I thought that was UGLY, so I ate more. Still, there's a difference between weighjng 200 pounds, weighing 120 pounds,and weighing 89 pounds. I opt for the middle goal of 120! That would be perfect for me. I mean, don't kid yourselves.....though being "pleasingly plump" may be slightly more acceptable now than it was before, people still look askance at those who are overweight. Power belongs to the thin.....are any of the Presidental candidates, (or their wives or families), fat? Not as far as I can see! It's hard to lose wieght, (I know!), but not impossible! (I once dieted myself down to 160 pounds....and lost my incipient diabetes!) Tips: Stop eatng before 6:PM, and dont eat agan until 6AM, at least; use a bit of apple cider vinegar and a few sprinkles of dried red pepper in all appropriate dishes,(mainly casseroles/meatloaves/etc.), use a scale every day, and try to count calories as follows: Take your ideal weight, and multiply by 10 if you are sedetary, 13 if you are mildly active, and 15 if you are running around all day. And -- try to stay away by from packaged foods with salt and hydrogenated oil! Hope this works for everyone! Politicians and the rich and famous should NOT be the only ones with the social advantage of being thin!!!!

It says that high BMI's are asscoiated with increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, some cancers and heart problems. Meanwhile my BMI is just under 50, and I have low to average blood pressure, low colesteral, and I don't have diabetes. However I was diagnosed with Hypoglicemia when I was a kid, before I was over weight. Imangine that.

Life is to hard and important to waste it being lazy and thinking its ok to live an unhealthy lifestyle. People need to think more positively about eating and not necessarily eating "healthy" but at least not "unhealthy." It's all a matter of perspective, how do you wanna live your life? Do you want it to end it early because you never cared about yourself or you loved ones enough not to live an unhealthy lifestyle? Excercise (it's fun and feels good!) and stop over eating and putting disguisting things into your body ALL THE TIME!

We have become a lazy, glutonous, selfish society that has to have immediate gratification without thought to what it is doing to our overall health and lifespan. Absolutely overweight people should pay more for health insurance. If they have no regards for their own health, then I shouldn't have to pay for their problems. Simple diet and exercise would make a world of difference,

I am actually happy to read that most of the comments it seems are rational, honest and practical. I am very tired of hearing all of the excuses (particularly genetics) that people use to excuse away why they are overweight. I myself am overweight, and if you ask I will tell you exactly how I got that way. I do not exercise regularly, and I eat more than I need. I think one thing people will find when they actually start eating healthy is how little your body really needs to maintain itself. Much less than most people think because we are so used to the extra large portion sizes now. The person that said weight equals calories in vs. calories out is exactly right. If you feel you are eating a small amount, but are gaining weight, then you likely need 1, more exercise, or 2, really keep track of the calories you eat and find out if it is truly what you need. My concern is always what it does to the health of our nation and future generations. I heard a friend say about an obese 4 year old boy that it doesn't matter what he eats, he was born obese and will always be that way. What chance are we giving children by having that attitude? At least have enough personal responsibility to be able to admit that mistakes are made that lead to being overweight. There are many reasons people overeat, but the solution always remains to accept a change in lifestyle whether that is to seek counseling or start an exercise regime. I don't have any statistics, except for personal observation, but I think if we became healthier as a society we would have a stronger workforce and lower disability rates as well.

Obesity is not a disease, it is an addiction to food and lack of exercise. Most of the time it is emotional. Yes it is a concern to everyone for health but why chastize it? In today's society, most people look at obesity in disgust. I don't think those who do understand it is not helping us "fat" people at all. We feel more like outsiders and less like making the effort to lose weight. It is almost like a "why bother" clause. If you really want to help, don't stare or snicker - how about a smile?

At 5'6" and male my BMI doesnt count for hooey! I'm not in the "healthy" range until about 155lbs and the last time I weighed that I was smoking $300 of crack a day. I'll just stay at my fit and healthy recovered weight of 185 ANY DAY!
Take your BMI, as it is, and either adjust it to real life standards or shove it up your skinny rump

I am 40 years old, 5'7", 125 lbs, which puts me at 19.6 BMI. For most of my life I was a perfect size 6. I haven't gotten any smaller, in fact I weigh a few more pounds than I did in my 30's, but miraculously I can fit into a size 2 or 4 depending on the brand. It's no secret that sizes have changed - the new 2 is the old 6!

Although I walk a lot each day, I don't belong to a gym, BUT I don't over-eat either. People gain weight when they consume more calories than their bodies burn. It's that simple. Put down the doughnuts, don't even think about that Big Mac and go for a walk!

YOU ALL ARE MISSING ONE KEY FACTOR IN ALL OF THIS. YOUR BODIES MUSCLE MASS ALL PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLL IN THIS STUDY. AS WE ALL KNOW MUSCLE WAYS MORE THAN FAT SO IF YOU ARE WORKING OUT YOU ARE GAINING MUSCLE THERE FOR ALSO GAINING WEIGHT SO EVEN THOUGH YOU EXCERSISES AND EAT HEALTHY YOU MAY STILL GAIN WEIGHT BUT YOUR ARE LOSIG FAT. WHAT PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO WORRY ABOUT IS PERCENTAGES OF BODY FAT NOT BODY MASS

JOSH J