No disease manufactures calories. Some cause increased retention but none create calories from nothing. The end result is no matter what your condition, age or circumstance you can still lose weight if you cut your intake of calories and/or increase your consumption to a point where you are burning more calories than you consume.

Is it unfair that some people have to work harder than others? Maybe, but some people have to work harder at getting good grades and some people will never be a great athlete no matter how hard they train. Life isn't fair and we all have our individual challenges to face. Face up to them and stop saying it isn't your fault.

Seriously, they post a 20 year old photo of how this lady used to look and we are just supposed to think just because she used to be skinny it must not be her fault? So what, 20 years ago I was 30 lbs lighter too. The difference is then I exercised way more and ate less. The extra 30 lbs are my fault, nothing else. If my body would manufacture calories I would save a whole lot of money on food and NASA would love to have someone they could send on missions without having to send food along with them.

Weight bias is increasing because people are getting fatter. Obesity related illness has skyrocketed and in a time where personal space is shrinking in public places some people take up more and more space. I should not have to pay more for my insurance because some people cannot put down the fork. I should not have to be shoved from my space in my seat because the person seated next to me is too big for their allotment. If you have a history of traffic accidents you pay more for your car insurance. If you have a history of not paying debt you may not get more credit or if you do you will pay a higher interest (or anyway that is how it used to work). If your habit of overeating has made you obese and subject to the many, many illnesses caused by obesity you should pay more for the almost certain cascade of health care your condition will require. Therein lies the point everyone missed, obesity isn't a disease, it is a condition caused by one's personal habits.

So many people don't want to take responsibility for their actions these days. They buy too much house and when they can't pay the mortgage after the balloon payment comes due it is a predatory lenders fault. They rack up credit card debt and it is the banks fault for sending out too many solicitations. Their kids act up and/or can't get decent grades and it is the fault of the media or the schools. They can't manage food or drink and they want to label alcoholisn and obesity as a disease. Those are all conditions caused by one's personal choices and it is their fault.

Not everyone will work out and look like some Hollywood star but all of us can do something to be more physically fit. You don't have to look like Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie to be healthy and fit. Those using that excuse are just grasping for straws or excuses. Exercise is the key because exercise is good for you even if it doesn't come with a lot of weight loss. Even skinny people can be unhealthy if they don't push themselves away from the remote and get more physically active. Walk a few blocks a day, take the stairs instead of the elevator, it won't kill you. There are exercises for almost anyone to get them active and even moderate exercise has benefit.

Go ahead, start the bashing but in the end it is you who is in denial. Until you face up to that denial you will never change. I really don't care what you choose to do with your life but I do not want to pay higher insurance or have my personal space infringed upon because of your bad choices. It is only when your choices start infringing on mine will I protest...

Jesse--

Did you even READ the article??? Some people have actual illnesses that cause them to be overweight. They can't help it. They aren't weak. They aren't stuffing their faces.

The article states that these people are a tiny percentage of the obese. But they DO exist, and people like you do not help.

And Chris--

I am all for personal responsibility. And I agree that MANY obese people could do more to help themselves. But the article is about people with legitimate, serious health problems. You wouldn't (I hope) blame someone whose illness or medication left them unable to see or to walk that it's all their fault.

And before either of you asks, I'm a size 6, so I'm not feeling sorry for myself. But I've seen people battle with this, and in some cases, it IS beyond their control.

Jessie: I'm a retired woman who put on 100lbs. taking Prednisone over 2 & 1/2 yrs. I'm also a retired nurse ( M.S. in Nursing), who got lots & lots of exercise as a nurse & didn't put on wt. until my multiple neuro-muscular diseases began.

And YOUR medical expertise comes from where? Oh! You READ! That explains it!

Jessie

I agree with you in 90% of the cases. There is no obesity without a huge food intake (3 double burgers with large fries for lunch every day, but with a diet soda!). nevertheless there are a few cases in which (as with cushing syndrome) in which food intak is not related to weight gain.

A little compasion and learning can be good before talking so harshly to others.

BTW Jesse & Chris: Just to add to your vast amt. of medical knowledge, look up:

Endomorph

Ectomorph

Mesomorph

FYI. Some medical conditions make it very difficult to exercise esp. with pain.

It is true that no disease manufactures calories, HOWEVER it is also true that disease prevents those calories from being used as fuel. I have PCOS too and gain weight simply by eating a slice of wheat bread. Jerks like Jessie and Chris are the perfect example of pure, unadulterated ignorance.

I know for a fact that some people have disorders that causes them to put on weight and not be able to get it off. I have a friend who is going through this type thing. She has always been active and eaten healthy. She still is active and eats no more than anyone else but because of her condition and the meds that she is on she CANNOT lose the weight no matter what she does. Some people aren't fat because they are lazy, sometimes they can't help that they have a condition or are on meds that make them overweight.

Also my question to all the heavyweights, what did you do after you had gained the first 25 or 50 lbs? These big-time heavy weights are consuming a lot of food, whatever the cause. You really need to be more honest with yourselves.

I was being treated by an endocrinologist for hypothyroidism. He didn't realized I'd already gained and lost the thyroid weight with a prior doctor, so he assumed the 25-50 lbs I gained was thyroid-related. Meanwhile, I counted every calorie that went in my mouth (1500/day), though I had *no* energy and couldn't exercise. Finally, when I hit 205 lbs I told the doc I couldn't take it anymore and he performed a glucose tolerance test, a relatively easy test that's seemingly not performed often. It showed insulin resistance which, uncorrected, would have led to Type 2 diabetes. What people don't realize is that with that condition, the glucose from food is not being processed into energy, as it should be. It is being stored as fat because the glucose is ignoring the insulin's instructions, so to speak. So it doesn't matter what you eat, even celery will make you fat! With appropriate medicine, which led to the energy to exercise, I lost 50 pounds and became normal again. And, yes, the difference in how people treat you is incredible. (Mind you, I weighed 103 at 5'8" from ages 13 to 32, lifted weights to become normal and got to 140, so 205 lbs was extremely hard to endure in every way.) What we have in this culture is a degree of meanness and hyper-judgmentalness that has become an epidemic! Too bad there's not a pill for that!

I can surely sympathize with these poor folks. Sometimes things happen inside your body that get you all screwed up. That's what happened to me several years ago. I had an allergic reaction to a particular antibiotic and was in deep trouble; at the emergency room they injected me with steriods to combat the allergy. It worked, but all of a sudden I started gaining weight that would NOT go away. I still have much difficulty with it today, even though I do all the correct "healthy" stuff.

Chris and Jessie are self-centered jerks who think they are perfect.

I, too, have PCOS. I fought with my weight throughout my teen years and still do at almost 40. I was diagnosed at age 28 after not conceiving after 2 years of trying. I exercise, try to eat healthy (but in Chris and Jessie's eyes, I am a cheater), and am miserable. PCOS is a very real disease and there is not much you can do for the weight gain, other than completely avoid any carbs. Is it possible? Yes it is. Is it reality in everyday life? NO!!!

Sad that a couple of people who posted here are typing, yet are somehow illiterate.....Jessie and Chris, I suggest you go take a couple of rudimentary READING LESSONS and try again to post something remotely related to this article once you've learned to read.

How to disgust a cop!

One of my friends had a liver transplant, and between her meds and diabetes she put on a lot of weight. She also had this fresh scar that ran across her body, so she was really sensitive about seatbelts.

One day she gets pulled over by a cop who is going to give her a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt, so she gets out of the car and shows him this ugly scar that is still all red. I guess the cop just excused himself and left.

There are a lot of people like Jessie & Chris...who see the world in black & white and are very rigid in their thinking. They fail to realize that nothing fits the all or nothing mode, especially when it comes to humans. It's all about the bell curve (but then I bet they don't know what that is either). I don't suppose it occurred to them to do some research to find out WHY certain diseases put on weight with no extra intake of food. Well I did and what I found is that certain medications & illnesses prevent the body from burning fat or glycogen for fuel, but instead burn muscle. And it converts and stores EVERYTHING you eat as fat. Gradually with less and less muscle and everything going to fat, what do you expect people to be?

I read a lot of fitness magazines to help inspire me to maintain my level of fitness, but what I read and see in those magazines are models who for a short period of time so restrict their caloric intake that it screws up their metabolism. A few have finally come clean on that and said they can only maintain that level of "leanness" for short periods of time and have to eat a lot more to reset their metabolism before they do it all over again to prepare for a competition or modeling gig. Being lean is obviously not all that "healthy" either.

I too suggest that Jessie and Chris re-read this article. Their comments are way off topic.

I inherited hypothyroidism from my mother and her mother, both of whom were quite fat. I always thought they over ate until, I too, was diagnosed with this metabolism killer. While the hormone therapy helps with some of the health risks associated with a slowed metabolism, the therapy does not help with weight loss.

I totally comprehend, I would have to starve to achieve a normal weight because, I am totally aware of what little foods I consume. Hypothyroidism causes a much lower metabolism rate.

For many, being over weight is a huge burden on them for everything in life. People makes rude comments, you are vilified by all all who are not over weight, and are made to feel like you are not human. You see adds on TV, the internet, in newspapers on what you can and must do to look like Mr. Washboard gut, small and in shape. They forget to tell people that this is what these people do and nothing else but workout. Yes, some are at fault for too many burgers and fries but who are we to make them feel like @!$%# everyday. I find many skinny people gross looking because they look unhealthy, no color, faces drawn in, just skin and bone. And the health part is this. Over weight people may have more medical problems and cost our health system. But say your small and live longer, you still are costing the health system more money in the long run, than a large person. How much weight you carry DOESN'T make a person. It's what is inside of you that really makes the difference in life and the people around you. You can always lose weight but you can't lose the ugliness and hatred within you. You may believe you are one of the beautiful people here on this earth and have no regard for anyone else but you may be a bigger loser than those you laugh at. How sad. We all are human beings.

Maybe Jesse & Chris slept at a Holiday in express????

They are a prime example of the only White or Black way of thinking in this country.

Unfortunately for many people there is no Middle Ground no alternatives to issues.

Hypothyroidism is one of the highest medical reasons, for people who can't lose weight.

In a lot of their cases they go undiagnosed for years.

Yes Chris and Jesse are ridiculously uninformed and obviously one track thinkers.

The wrong track!

People with server Asthma have to take Prednisone which is a weight gaining steroid, no fault of their own

Thank you, Wilberta. Yes, I have both asthma and hypothyroidism. However, I don't take the prednisone for my asthma. Once, when I used it, I fell into a breath stealing coughing attack that scared me.

Also, they maintain this steroid does not filter throughout the body; however, how can it not. Upon usage, I always have a powder residue remaining in my mouth, which I have to swallow, and the human lungs are not encased in steel, isolated from the rest of the body.

I always enjoy your intelligent and insightful posts.

Metabolic disorders run on both sides of family, especially hypothyroidism. I started gaining weight during my 30s and now cannot lose the weight, regardless of my activity level.

My lesson learned from this is that you really cannot judge a person by their appearance.

I often wonder about obesity and it's effects. Is being fat what's bad for you and causes the secondary problems or is it the stress that comes with rejection and isolation society seems to think overweight people need? Do people like Chris and Jesse really think that putting people down is a help?

Do not point me to an article or some study that says some people have a harder time processing calories than others. Those are facts I glibly agree with as a fact. However, the other FACTS proven beyond controversy is that NOTHING manufactures calories. To get calories you have to eat. If you have some condition that hinders your processing calories, EAT LESS and try to exercise more!!! Your body is obviously processing some calories or you would die!

I have EXTENSIVE education in health. I spent years in the military advising people on their weight. I am a graduate of the Army fitness trainers course. A large part of that training has to do with diet. I will rack up my education and knowledge on the topic against any of the lame whiners who attacked my post. For the whiners here are the facts:

1. No disease manufactures calories. NONE, NONE. You get calories by putting something in your mouth. I have had this same argument with an obese man who all the while was drinking a real Coke. There was 200 calories right there.

2. No disease which slows a persons metabolism or inhibits the processing of calories in a persons body prevents them from inhibiting their intake of calories. NONE! If you can exercise, do so to help with your intake/burn balance.

3. Those who can legitimately claim a medical basis for their difficulty in losing weight are a very small minority of those who actually make the claim. A VERY SMALL MINORITY! I would bet few if any of those attacking me have a legitmate claim.

4. The lady using the terms Endomorph, Ectomorph, Mesomorph is particularly clueless. Those are body types and have ZERO to do with disease or health. My family is heavily populated by obese people. My uncle died from weight related diseases and my father is in danger himself. Just because that is/was their fate doesn't mean I throw up my hands and say "Oh, I am an endomorph so I am fated to be fat!" That is a cop out.

People cruise the Internet and grab on to whatever term (like endomorph) or BS study they can find to avoid doing what they must do to lose weight or to excuse their lack of will. I do not care who are what condition you are in but you can lose weight by reducing your intake and/or increasing your burn. Any denial of that or plea of disease is a cop out nothing more. Your continued use of that cop out is a symptom of the reason you cannot lose weight, lack of self control.

Attack all you want, maybe you can do it while standing up, at least you will burn a few extra calories. I don't have contempt for the obese, but neither will I stand by and see my standard of living curtailed by others lack of control.

It is true that no disease manufactures calories, HOWEVER it is also true that disease prevents those calories from being used as fuel.

Which is the whole point. And by the way, if any of you notice a "gradual weight gain" despite your normal activities and eating, I suggest that you get your thyroid levels checked.

Some pre-menopausal women discover their thyroid stopped manufacturing a hormone THAT IS NECESSARY TO DIGEST AND PROCESS FOOD AS ENERGY.

When that happens Jesse, people get fat. It has nothing to do with what they eat.

I will say however that many people are obese because they will not put down the fork.

IT'S NOT MY FAULT ! ! !

Im a normal 39 year old man, living in my parents attic. I work part time at DunkinDonuts, and spend 13 hours a day on line, chatting with teenage boys. My daily intake of 8 Donuts, 4 Croissants for breakfast, Raviolio's for lunch, and Golden Corral Buffet for dinner have led me to tip the scales at 487 lbs.

IT'S NOT MY FAULT ! ! !

Although I've got a 7th grade education, if I had a job making $200,000 a year, I'd be able to afford my own trailer, not live in Moms Attic. If the minimum wage would be raised to $45. per hour, I'd be eating Organic....

LIKE THE DEMOCRATS SAY.... "ITS THE RICH GUYS FAULT... IM A VICTIM ! ! !"

chris335678

Please see my post 1.25. Not having enough thyroid hormone CAUSES PEOPLE TO GAIN WEIGHT ceteris perebis (all other things remaining equal).

The only way to lose that weight is to take a hormone replacement OR NOT EAT AT ALL.

Karen, one of this nation's top experts on hypothyroidism, a female victim of this malady, maintains, the hormone therapy does not help with obesity. I have slim friends who eat me under the table. Diet is not the only factor in obesity.

From my collappsed at 1.1:

To those who are not happy with my challenge, I'm not a medical expert but I have had Graves Thyroid Disease and was on a course of predinisone & PTU like many here. You are correct, the first month I gained 20 pounds & my Dr. wanted to still increase my medications. This is a double whammy, I had to take ANTI-THYROID meds which slow your metabalism down AND prednisone which is notorious, so I HAVE BEEN THERE.

This was 10 years ago. I now still weight 20lbs more than when I started, but not 150 more. I started exercising, eating much less until if found a balance where I wasn't continuing to gain weight. It was very hard, but I had gotten on line and read that I would have to resign my self to gaining 70-80 lbs. So I was determined not to let that happen to me. Be honest, it takes a lot of food to gain & maintain 150lbs.

Reusable, It is only common sense, you cannot judge a book by its cover. Look at Ted Bundy, one of the most prolific serial killers in history! He was startingly handsome, very attractive, and everyone liked him and thin, too. Yet, he was a monster.

I know an 80 plus year old lady, slender and with the sweetest face imaginable, and she stole from me something I loved very profoundly, and I have struggled so long with a pain and grief that slices my heart, and at times is unbearable. Yet, everyone who sees her cannot believe she rammed her knife in my back, metaphorically. Psychopaths can be slender, attractive and appear to be decent and ethical, very personable and likable.

Many folks who are unattractive on the outside and/or are fat are deliciously good and decent on the inside. I would hope, that mankind is not so shallow as to judge others by the paper and tinsel resting on the outside.

To all of you who are whining that you are fat because you have hypothyroidism - you are fat because you eat too much and don't get your rear off the couch enough! You are NOT fat because of hypothyroidism. I have had hypothyroidism for more than 10 years and am still the same 120-125lbs I have been since I was in college (more than 20 years ago). Did I mention I am 5'10" tall so that makes me really quite slender ... yet I have hypothyroidism! Every female member of my family has hypothyroidism and not one of them is more than 135-140lbs. How do we do it? Easy, we take our thyroid pills and eat lots of fresh vegetables, whole grains, fruit, and lean meat/fish, and we are very active (run, walk, golf, swim, yoga, gardening, etc.) - we don't eat white breads, sugars, sodas, potato chips, heavy fats, or pastries.

Chris hit it right on the nose - if you don't eat the bad food and high calories you don't get fat. If you eat the bad food and high calories, you get fat. There are a very very very small percentage of people who have a medical condition that may cause edema (water retention) or increased fat storage (insulin resistance) but virtually all of those conditions are immensely controllable with proper medication/surgery and (wait for it...) DIET. If you have insulin resistance then you don't get to eat carbs or smoke or drink coffee or eat white sugar/high fructose corn syrup anymore. If you do, you will get fat. But don't blame the disease, blame the person who continued to crammed the white bread and sugary sodas down your throat while puffing on two pack of cigs a day.

I don't dislike fat people (heck, Santa would be kinda silly if he was all trim and buff), but I do dislike having to pay an astronomical healthcare premium and pay nearly 55% of my income in taxes, much of which goes to pay for all of the medical problems experienced by fat people caused soley by the fact that they are fat. I'm all for the fat tax - if you are clinically overweight (not due to a current and controlled medical condition) then you should have to pay extra for medical care and other similar services. Being fat is a luxury and an option, so if you want to be fat - go for it - but you should be responsible for the cost of that choice.

Cole, toss in post menopausal, old age, arthritis and a sluggish metabolism.

PS, Cole, is my over-eating making me bald too, which my doctor says stems from the dead thyroid?

skor154

I am sorry that it did not work for your friend - taking hormone to help the metabolism.

It has helped other people including coleslaw.

Thank you, sweet Karen. May your life be blessed!

weight bias is increasing becuz racism has become completely socially unacceptable in civilised society. so the jerks who would other wise have been shouting ignorant and racist things are now shouting diferent kinds or ignorant and assumptive things at others.

bigots always assume they are beter than other people becuz of superficial diferences. that assumption is wrong. there prejudice and ignorance makes them much much worse people.

you are fat because you eat too much and don't get your rear off the couch enough!

and anorexics are too skinny because they just don't eat too much. wait oh no they suffer from a serious life threatening disorder. just like the seriously over weight do. but I bet you could cure them easy rite? just eat more or eat less. amazing you have found the cure!!

My running partner (and yes, we RUN, we don't trot) weighs 180 pounds due to thyroid issues. We actually take the same thyroid medication, only her dose is about twice what mine is. We're the same height, same build, I'm ten years older than she is but I weigh fifty pounds less. She's on Weight Watchers, works out every single day and yet, she drops weight so slowly it has to be unnerving the dickens out of her. She doesn't complain, she runs. We've been running 5k's together three times a week for the last year, and recently we took it up to a 10k once a week. She uses a trainer at the gym, also three times a week. She's a masseuse, which for those of you who don't know, burns about 300 cal/hr. She has three kids that are all involved in sports, tennis, racketball, track and baseball... and she plays several times a week because she loves slamming a ball around with them. I hear all about what she eats, and believe me, it's a fairly spartan diet. We're talking lettuce with no dressing, loads of veggies and barely a spot of fat to be found. She drops about an ounce a week.... so all you fatty-haters, why don't you tell me what else this woman can do that would allay your condemnation? You want to tell her she's too lazy or weak-willed? Try keeping up with her for a month and then come back tell us how it's all her fault she weighs 180 pounds. Jeeze... a little compassion wouldn't kill you.

ula

It's frustrating is right. My friend is a major jock who has a thyroid issue. She also eats well.

She only lost 3 pounds in six weeks and the doctor thought that was great.

180 lbs isn't morbidly obese ula_ashore. If everyone with a "disease that makes them fat" weighed only 180 lbs... all of us "fatty-haters" would be dancing down the street passing out blue ribbons for how awesome and healthy everyone is.

Your running partner sounds like a responsible adult that manages a huge problem in her life to the best of her ability.

That is NOT how most people handle their disease, and they draw scrutiny for it.

I'm sure she is chubby, and maybe she gets a little crap for that, but does she get a LOT? I mean really? You didn't mention if she feels discriminated against, or if people tell her to "put down the fork" or other such things. Do they? Or does she go largly unnoticed (no pun intended).

Keep in mind most of us go "unnoticed" most of the time. At least that is my perception. Unless you are just a full blown hotty, or a muscular stud, you probably don't go turning heads as you walk down the street, and soliciting smiles from the most stalwart of individuals =P. Even thick girls get special attention from the men sometimes. There is a preference for that somewhere in our culture =P.

So the real question is. Can she be happy with her life? She sure sounds like she has all the makings of a happy one... so me thinks we need to look further, because you seem to make a solid point in defense of all the "fatty haters" =P.

A 180 pound body that is toned and muscular looks completely different from a 180 pound body that is has a high fat-to-muscle ratio. An unfit large body cannot hold itself up when the subway train stops and starts or support their own frame while seated in an aircraft they are all over the seats that have other people sitting in them. A 180 pound "fit" body can climb stairs without impeding the people climbing up behind them.

I use to be a person whose body had a high fat content, I use to be a person who used my legitimately diagnosed dis-eases to try to garner sympathy and empathy from others around me. I use to be a body who tried to manipulate my children to feel sorry for me and try to string them and others along by holding organ recitals and pity parties. I am not that person anymore.

What I have:

Type II Diabetic w/Insulin Resistance (Now under great control Former A1c when diagnosed 12.3 – Now 5.5)

High Cholesterol (Formerly stroke 215/110 when first diagnosed Under great control - 175)

High Blood Pressure (Under great control – 110/60)

High Triglycerides (Now 65-70)

Arthritis in: Fingers – both hands; Back/spine; knees; right big-toe & ankles

Sciatica

Heart Murmur

Because of my exercise routine – the above is of no effect. Heart Murmur gone. I am still a Type II despite my great blood sugar numbers which will remain that way as long as I workout each and every day at minimum 60 minutes a day.

JGL, You missed the point entirely.... I'm saying she works out this hard, harder than 99% of the American population, to ONLY weigh 180 pounds. No, she isn't morbidly obese, but she would be if she didn't bust her ass every single freaking day. She lives on vegetables but would love a steak at least once in awhile. Yet, if she had one, it wouldn't take all of 5 minutes before some bozo walks past with a snide comment. I've seen it happen. Just how much verbal abuse does a person have to take before it counts as "a lot"? Really. It shouldn't happen at all, to anyone, ever, especially from a complete stranger. She's happy with her life, but she isn't happy in the slightest about her weight. "Only" 180 pounds.... you try lugging around an extra 50 pounds. The article was about people who try, not people who don't. Me, defending obtuse fatty-haters? I don't think so.

I think JGL meant she's not morbidly obese like some people claim to be because of the same disease. She works hard and that's why she's not. And it is understandable that with the medication she takes she is a little heavier than the norm; however these people are blaming the disease for being morbidly obese and gaining 150 pounds and whatever. I'm sure there's someone out there with the same thyroid problem as ula's friend claiming that they gained 300 pounds because of the disease because maybe they weren't overweight before but didn't exercise or ate healthy and then got some disease like that and didn't change their lifestyles and obviously gained weight.

Chris~ I can honestly say I have never posted a negative message to a soldier but i am changing that now. First let me say I am a veteran. I was a medic. My husband is an active duty 1SG. So your claims of being as much of an expert as any doctor are just laughable. I know plenty of people that are master fitness trainers, my husband included. He and I have both spent years doing weight counseling, that does not make you an expert on medical conditions. I spent time in a wheelchair when I broke my back. I have severe nerve damage that prevents me (depending on the swelling around my nerve root) from regular exercise. I ate less than 1200 calories a day and was on a whole food (fruits, veggies, whole grains) diet laid out by a dietician/nutritionist for 6 months. I gained weight. So short of starving myself, what is it I should have done? Did my injury, my medications (multiple meds such as steroids, anti seizure meds etc) or my illness (I have fibromyalgia brought on by the trauma to my spine) cause the calories to enter my body? No, did they cause my weight gain? YES! Do not come on here and claim to be a medical expert. Your military experience may make you knowledgable about fitness, but that is vastly different from being a medical expert. You are rude and judgemental and ignorant. I am hoping you are not still serving on active duty and I pray you are never in a position to work with our wounded warriors, your arrogance and lack of understanding are insulting.

Whats missing? I work long hours in a chair and still find time to hit the gym and work out for 40 minutes a day lifting weights. I eat lean protein, very little carbs, and tons of vegetables which actually has cost me less money than my old diet. My whole family is fat, so the genetics excuse does not fly, it is just an excuse. I don't have time is another excuse that is complete bull, if you have watched a single TV show then you have wasted time.

You don't need 6 hours in a gym, you need to find your BMR and eat less than that. Get some muscle which in turn burns more calories. There is no secret missing ingredient, unless you have a severe hormone imbalance, to getting thin and fit. It is a slow process that takes time and dedication. You don't deviate from your plan for years depending on how much weight you need to lose.

So why am I telling you this? Because I was 250 pounds last September. I am now 190 with a target of 180. I hit plateaus on the way and had to tighten the restrictions down even more, but at no point did i start going to the gym more because that just leads to injury. End results? Lowered my cholesterol, stopped taking drugs to control it, joints are feeling great, and I sleep better making the workouts even easier.

Exercise more is not the answer, but people need to get some exercise. Stop making excuses for yourself, if you start your new life style today, in a year from now you will have wished you started a year earlier. There is no excuse that I can hear (other than that VERY small percent of people who are diseased) that will make me excuse obesity, because I made them all myself and know they are bullsh!t.

I'm sorry Bill but if you have only kept this weight off for less than a year, you can't use yourself as an example of success. Lots of people make improvements and lose weight only to find it creep back up on them. Let me know how you're doing after 5 years.

Congrats on your success so far though. It sounds like you've found the right plan for you. And I admire your dedication and perseverance. Please don't judge others so harshly though.

Yeah there's a bias against the overweight. How many people complain about sitting next to 400 lb people in a theater, or on a plane?

Hey T: I'll cop to it. I'm one of those who has complained about sitting there, squished into my half of a seat on a 7 1/2 hour flight because the 400+ guy couldn't keep it all in HIS seat!! I would have GLADLY traded seats with you and let you enjoy the pleasures of my pain!

Baberuthy, not every fat person got that way from eating and no exercise. People can get it from medication that they have to take and from illnesses/diseases. How is it their fault that they need to take a medication for something like treating cancer and the side effect is weight gain?

Are there fat people that are that way due to bad choices? Yes. But that's not everyone.

Not so baberuthy! My wife was not fat. But when she is taking a certain medication which helps her manage the pain associated with Fibromyalgia it caused her to gain around 40 pounds. She is not obese but she certainly does not like the way it makes her look. At one point, her vanity motivated her to quit taking the medication and suffer through the pain until she lost the weight. She has since restarted taking the medication and has begun regaining the weight. Starving herself, (not eating) and able exercise do not prevent the weight gain associated with the med.

My friend has that, Sarcasticus. She weighed maybe 190 pounds when I met her. She was overweight, but didn't gain any more weight while I knew her. Unfortunatley, she is doing what your wife did and refusing to take the amount of medication that she was required (she didn't quit, but is taking less). She is constantly in pain and has no energy. . .but she lost weight! It's pathetic that some people consider that a good thing considering the pain that she goes through every day. She was better off, heavier, and with no pain than she is now. She can't even stand for 10 minutes (that also includes walking) before she has to sit down because she is in pain/exhausted.

The "symptoms and outcomes" associated with Fibromyalgia are incredible. My wife comes from very tough stock. Though she is a very determined person, this thing is taking her down (even on meds). I take up the slack in chores but doing so causes her to feel like a burden and she is losing the ability to do the things she likes...it's tragic.

Fibromyalgia is a progressive disease which will get very bad if the symptoms aren't treated, your friend may weigh less but she's cutting her life very short by not sticking with her medications. I have a friend with the disease as well, and she takes her meds and is able to exercise and enjoy quite a lot of life because she sticks with her treatment. Is she gaining weight, Yes. Is she happy about it, no, but she also is more concerned with enjoying life and living it, then being in so much pain that she is housebond.

Thank you Sarcasticus1. I, like your wife, also have Fibromyalgia. I've had it 17 yrs. & even worked while I was trying to deal with the pain. Only when other related problems surfaced & "ganged-up" on me all at the same time, did I finally HAVE to quit. I did NOT want to doso. I'm very lucky that my Primary Care Physicain has a wife with it & understands BETTER than my own husband.

Tell your wife NOT to feel like it is HER fault because she's hurting badly but APPEARS on the outside to be normal; that's a large part of the frustration with the condition. And I'll bet she does what I & so many others do when they are having a good day-they work like mad & overdo it, paying for it the next day, but at least receiving some satisfaction from accomplishing things that she just has to look at most of the time & WISH she could do at her whim.

W/O exercise, even a less than normal amt. of food puts wt. on & some medicines do not help it as you mentioned.

Fibromyalgia is a progressive disease which will get very bad if the symptoms aren't treated, your friend may weigh less but she's cutting her life very short by not sticking with her medications.

Indeed, but you can't force someone to change, especially when she is finally getting noticed by people. She was a teenager when she was diagnosed and quickly gained weight due to the medication. So, you can only imagine what she went through in high school. I guess she feels that now that she has lost the weight that she is like everyone else.

Baberuthy and Bill: Go back to reading class and learn to READ!!!! This article relates to brain tumors among other things that cause a person to ABNORMALLY handle calories. This means, (as you yourself Baberuthy note below) that there ARE more complex biologies at work than what a person eats. Good God people grow a spine, take a minute bit of effort to actually learn something, and quit parroting the "calories in, calories out" garbage fallacy. It is a total cop-out and it is NOT the case for everyone! Many, many people in the US; absolutely, they are not trying. However, please reserve some respect for those who work very hard but do not have success!

As for the "you don't have to work out in the gym for 6 hours...." comment: Yes, I do. PCOS, hypothyroidism that goes out of whack with no warning, severe issues with a female condition that I am waiting for surgery on tomorrow....I began putting on weight at a frightening pace in college and it's never stopped. I went to the doctor when the weight began coming on with no explanation (I even increased my exercise but was gaining weight so fast). SOME people can control it. I can too; with a 400 calorie per DAY diet and no less than 6 hours of strenuous (Tai-bo, elliptical, fast speed walking) exercise. I try but an hour or two a day is what I pull off- that doesn't touch this issue! And no, I do not eat fast food, high fat, fried, or otherwise "bad" food very often at all.

I apologize, for not considering all of the medical/chronic conditions. I have a family member with CF (who I sincerely believe will be denied the drugs he gets now within a year under the new healthcare bill). And while it seems completely unrelated, we actually learned about FM, while learning about CF. What is quite amazing about these diseases is that the people afflicted with them appear quite healthy and normal to most.

We do a lot of fund-raising for both conditions and very much hope to see them cured within our lifetimes. We work for that a little bit each day. The person in my family with CF, is btw, my only child. And I am too old to have more. I will fight these diseases every day while I am lucky enough to be alive.

Babyruth and Bill: I agree with those who are chastising you for your comments. This article addresses those (of us) who struggle with/cannot maintain normal weight because of health issues that are unrelated to a proper diet and exercise program.

Evidently you are not among these people, or know anyone who has the medical issues that can cause unusual weight gain and retention despite one's best efforts, as you show little to no understanding of the topic -- just an appalling lack of empathy for those who are not like you and a need to show off a superficial superiority.

Perhaps a re-reading of this article will redirect your thoughts and feelings.

Please ignore all those people who want to keep classifying each case of obesity or overweight as being "their" fault because they "stuffed their faces" and have no "self control". Not everyone's case is the same and not everyone can be lumped into this category. Those posters are obviously ignorant people who are either trolling to agitate others, or they are just plain ignorant in not wanting to acknowledge well-known medical conditions and/or medications which have been proven to cause weight gain.

I have PCOS as mentioned above. I really started gaining weight when I was @ 26 years old. At the time, I worked as a bookkeeper for an electrician. He was telling all the guys that worked around us that I was "stuffing my face with twinkies" all day. I quit 2 weeks after I heard him say it and he didn't know it. I thought about confronting him about it, but figured it would do no good. Judgemental people don't change their stripes, just ask Bill from above.

"The "symptoms and outcomes" associated with Fibromyalgia are incredible. "

For every researcher who states fybromyalgia is real there is another who says it isn't. The one thing that is a known fact is that the number of self-diagnosis of it exploded once the pharmaceutical companies started advertising medication for it. The diagnosis of it also is most prevalent in areas with higher rates of physicians per patient. There is a known correlation, bordering on acceptance as causation, that the fewer patients a physician has the more treatment he will provide per patient to keep his or her billings up(if you do not know the difference between correlation and causation look it up). We are the most medicated country in the world and it is the primary reason our health care costs are through the roof. Fact, there is no known objective test to prove fybromyalgia exists in a patient. A diagnosis of it is, at best, a guess. Not surprised that people who think obesity is a disease would willingly blame fibromyalgia for obesity. Again, these are facts feel free to bash away.....

Although alot of people have chimed in about the causes of overweight, let me clarify my statement. I maintain that it's not a "simple" matter of eat less, exercise more. Even if you DON'T take meds that cause weight gain, people are still different. There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all diet. That's why there are HUNDREDS of diet books out there - some of which are actually good. But not ONE of them will work for everybody. And even the good ones are based on someone's idea of what works. I think South Beach is a fine diet, devised by a heart specialist with the goal of improving his patient's health and cardiovascular functions. And it STILL won't work for everyone. What's missing isn't an ingredient, it's the fact that most of us will need to come up with our own, individualized diet, that fits our taste buds AND our lifestyles, and still allows us to lose weight. It's all trial and error, and being willing to stick with something even if we only lose 1-2 lbs a month, or even hit a plateau. And also accepting that realistically, we aren't all going to look like Terry Hatcher, or even Jillian Michaels, and we shouldn't have to, either. My 14 year old is 5'5" & weighs around 160. She wears sizes 9 or 10, and is very healthy and athletic, so I don't think she needs to worry about her weight. I think she's fine.

Is weight gain a real side effect or is really an affected metabolism? If you need to take a medication that you know will affect your metabolism then you should probably change how you eat and exercise. You should also probably research your treatment options seeing how there seems to be a new pill for anything and everything nowadays.

Everyone has to change their eating habits as they get older. I don’t care how healthy or unhealthy they are. The only way to maintain a healthy weight is to pay attention to your body and adjust your eating and exercise habits accordingly. What is so hard or confusing about that?

Yes, so you have an ailment that affects your ability to exercise. I can dig it. But, you can still adjust your eating habits. Some people get too comfortable and set in their ways and don’t want to make accommodations for a necessary change. Instead they want to blame it as some sort of stick in their spokes.

My problem is with people who don’t take responsibility, people who act as though they have no choice or control, people who act as if everything just HAPPENS to them.

PS I don’t like how people feel obligated to hurl insults towards a person who posted something they don’t agree with. If you disagree then say so and say why. Hurling an insult won’t make your point, or lack of, any more convincing. I guess it might make you feel more powerful in a smug sort of way but, really…

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at the age of 12. Through the THS and T4 blood testing.

I was put on medication because of my weight. I was a "tomboy" and play all types of "ball" games, plus ran track in High School.

I never lost weight even with the medication. I have never been a big eater. I love salads and seafood and chicken. Never cared for red meat and fried foods or sweets. I was a strange child in that way.

My doctor put me on a 500 calorie a day diet which I have been on for 48 years.

That is the only way, I don't gain weight. I know you have to put calories in, however every one is different and that is the problem.

People always try to standardize everyone instead of realizing the value of ones own uniqueness!

The medical industry is standardized. One size treatments do not fit all.

Wilberta, I want to tell the naysayers that, is my, "stuffing my face" making me go bald as well? Both my mother and grandmother suffered from hypothyroidism, yet, they kept all their hair! Why did the dead thyroid impact me differently because my doctor said this is the cause of my hair loss too! Aren't I goin be a pretty sight, fat, old and bald. Geez,

An old, fat, bald woman.

Chris - 335678:

You stated: "Fact, there is no known objective test to prove fybromyalgia exists in a patient. A diagnosis of it is, at best, a guess."

That is true. But that does not mean that Fibromyalgia is not a neurlogic disease. The Neurologist treating my spouse for her "chronic pain issues" did not consider Fibromyalgia as "real" nor had we ever heard of Fibromyalgia. Efforts by the Neurologist were not progressing well. Eventually, my wife went to a Rhumatologist. While my wife reported the roughly twenty year history of increasing symptoms to the Rhumatologist, he simply shook his head because her symtoms were "a classic discription" and he gave her information about Fibromyalgia. Notable fact, the treatment from both doctors was with the same types of meds but in different combinations.

Back to the subject, my wife was lean and athletic, rode horses, played ball, etc. The medication resulted in a remarkable weight gain...not obesity. The Fibromyalgia did not cause the weight gain, the meds did. The weight gain did not result in obesity. Fibromyalgia does not cause obesity nor do level headed folks suggest such.

So, consider yourself "bashed."

Okay, this IS the exception to my previous harsh comment. If you are on steroids, you pretty much are going to gain weight. I had a good friend on steriods who went on a raw food diet for three months and did not lose a single pound. Every other friend I have who did the same lost so much weight, only one of them could actually complete the program, the rest had to drop out because they became too underweight to make it through.

Your backside reference is priceless, btw.

newcon -

I am over 60 and I have a weight problem. I have had it most of my life. At 5' 10'' and 180 lbs most people do not think I have a problem. I just got down from 190 lbs because I do not eat ice cream, pizza, snack foods and only 1 meal a day. Hopefully, I will stay at 180 because I feel comfortable. I am also on meds for a breathing problems but I am also on the scale every morning.

We have a receptionist at work. She has to weigh around 300 lbs. I have never seen her without food in her mouth. I'm sure she is on meds. Probably has nothing to do with constantly stuffing food in her mouth. I am sure that there are people with weight problems from some illness but not 25% or more of the population. Please don't try to tell me that.

I'm a single guy and I am not a chubby chaser. At my age there is not a lot left to choose from. You women just have to stop eating.

What kind of breathing problems?

I'm a single guy and I am not a chubby chaser. At my age there is not a lot left to choose from. You women just have to stop eating.

...anyone want to hazard a guess why Big Ron is still single???

LOL fedupwithliberals!!! I was thinking the same thing! What a lonely miserable life he must lead!

Hey Big Ron!!! How about you stop eating and talking! Maybe then, you could find someone.

This bashing of the health care bill and President Obama over this issue is so stupid. I'm sure that if there's a medical reason for being obese that it wouldn't cost you more under the new health care plan. But by all means, let's repeal it so that people with pre-existing conditions can't get insurance. Throw the baby out (literally) with the bathwater. I can't believe how gullible you ditto-headed, tea partying, Glenn Beck worshipping cretins can be. But then I remember how you all voted for George Wrongwar Bush and I believe.

The article says that most obese people are not fat because of illnesses, but because of poor food choices and lack of activity. It only makes sense to give people incentives to be healthy in order to control the costs of our healthcare in this country.

So give me a break. I'm sorry for those who can't lose weight because of their illnesses or medications and I'm sorry you experience bias. But for everyone else who's just making excuses, it would be a good thing for you to quit eating sugar/fat/salt and to get up off the couch.

I recently lost 30 pounds by changing my diet. It took me almost 2 years. Then I gained back 6 pounds even though I workout every day, don't eat crap and quit drinking any alcohol altogether. I don't know why, but it's frustrating. I'm not going to give up though! I'm going to eat less and move more and lose those 6 pounds. The battle of the bulge is annoying and takes discipline. Quit making excuses. Get up and do some jumping jacks -- that's what I'm going to do right now.

There is another fundamental theme here as with every thing. For those who believe in the creation theory, variety was the basis in the diversity of life.

There are all kinds of everything under the sun and in the ocean. The only thing humans seem to have problems with is variety in other humans.

Not every one is suppose to be fat, thin, tall, short, black, white, yellow, red, blue eyes, brown eyes, green eyes, grey eyes. Red hair, blond hair, auburn hair, black hair. white hair.

Bald, thick flowing mane, yes some people do over eat, yes some people don't eat enough,

in the final analyze however, who are we to judge. Try hard enough and we all can come up with a problem to attack or something we don't like.

So what does that really do for us as human beings? We have some choices to affect our lives but not all choices to affect our lives.

If some people chose to over eat and you are not gaining the weight, leave them alone. Work on yourself.

Over the standardize weight, does not always equate unhealthy, just as thin does not always equate healthy.

Jessie is an idiot, but Chris is definitely on point. Fat just doesn't appear out of thin air, else we could use it to power the planet as the ultimate energy supply. Your body must consume sugars and other carbohydrates that are then turned into energy, or if not used turned into fat for long term storage. Eat less = less energy intake = less body weight. And this must be done over months, not days.

Now with that being said, some people ~do~ get certain illness's that interfere with the body's ability to consume energy / store energy into fat. But there are rare and most certainly not 30% of the USA's population. Yes the obesity rate in the USA is 30% now, vs 3.4% for South Korea and 4.3% for Japan. We're one of the fattest nations in the world, and its not because of a sudden unexplained epidemic of diabetes or other sugar related diseases.

Most fat people are fat because they don't / won't / can't control their desire to consume food. The more food they eat the more they crave and thus the more they eat. As you put on the weight walking and activity becomes more difficult, so instead of exercising to throw off the weight they instead slow down and stop being active. So the weight balloons more until the heart / health problems start setting in.

If your someone who was diagnosed with a disease that prevents your body from burning sugar (insulin resistance) then thats understandable, take the meds and slowly loose the weight. But those people usually loose the weight overtime because they have to watch what their eat. I actually feel sympathy for people in this category because their often lumped in with the lazy / weak crowd, which they are not a part of.

In the end, your weight is your own responsibility. Life sucks and sometimes we get handed a bad hand of cards, but you gotta work with what you got and push forward. That is the real thing that pisses me off, when people refuse to take responsibility for themselves, their actions and their present position in life.

Wilberta, being to fat meant the tiger ate you first. Think about that long and hard for a moment.

It all depends on the exact definition of "healthy" and "overweight" we use. BMI is a good WAG (wild ass guess) to figure that out but it really depends on individual body composition. There is a difference between lean body mass (LBM) and fatty body mass. Two people can be the exact same height and weight yet one be fatter then the other. Loosing fatty tissue is a good thing, your body only needs 3~4% fatty tissue to live and most people look at their best when their around 8~10% fatty tissue. LBM is more dense per volume then fatty tissue, so 1lb of fat is larger then 1lb of LBM. Loosing LBM weight is very very ~bad~ because it will just cause your to have a higher fatty tissue percentage. And upon in taking calories your body will immediately attempt to recreate the lost LBM. This is why people who try to diet too fast and loose lots of weight always gain it back. Their loosing LBM instead of fatty tissue weight, their body then immediately puts the LBM back in place once eating resumes.

Really most people just need to learn ~how~ to control their weight rather then assuming its always crash dieting. Your body only needs 1200 or so calories per day to maintain your body. So going to a 1500 or so calorie per day, then walking for 2hrs per day at 3.5 mph (so 7 miles total) will evaporate extra weight over time. Its something that must be maintained for a few months, and strict control of calorie intake is required. No "pigging out" days, no breaks no freebies.

I am with you. I think there is something wrong in the medical world where people take meds to cure one thing and it destroys the rest of their bodies. Lots of people are painfully put into that postion because the illness they have is a deadly one. I do agree that some people make excuses for being overweight, they blame genetics as they eat their third McDonalds meal for the day. But when a doctor tells a paitent to lock themself in a closet and starve themself to lose weight, there is something seriously wrong with this world and the way we treat each other. Yes there are poeple who lack personal resposibility, but there are these medicated people who are being forced to either gain weight or die. I know what I would choose and I am sure everyone here knows what you would choose if death or obesity where your only options.

I agree as well, too often the solution in western medical science creates more problems than it solves. Medications definitely have useful situations, but in a majority of situations a disease is a result of years and years of improper diet and/or insufficient exercise, mostly the diet though. The types and proportions of fats and proteins you feed yourself, as well as the overall vitamin and mineral content of your food determine how well your body is able to maintain your cell health.

This article serves as a fine lesson on the results of being judgemental, as well as making generalized statements. Generalized statements lead you to the thought that you know the reason for a problem without ever having to find out the exact details of the specific problem, and the result is that you judge people based on your preconceived notions.

Another important thing to remember is that you do not have to be upset about people judging you. You cannot control what others think or say, you can only control YOUR REACTION to what people think or say. When somebody says something that offends you, such as "You are fat because you are stupid and lazy" or any number of hurtful things, you can choose to not let it bother you. What do you care what a person like that thinks anyways?

The big pharma industry in this country is corrupt. They don't want to make meds that fix problems, they want to make meds that make you take more meds. They're getting rich off the fat of the land (so to speak).

I wonder if marijuana would help some of the problems listed here? Fibromyalgia, for example. And don't buy the hype about it making you over-eat and lazy although if you have cancer you won't have the loss of apetite issues. You don't have to smoke it -- there are edible or liquid options.

Anyway, it's something to think about.

Montana: I also believe in medical M.J. & have seen the positive effects it can bring. But, so far I've never read anything on it doing anything for FMS.

I do know there was a lot of serious medical research being done yrs. ago when I was 1st. dxed. on causative factors of Fibromyalgia (FMS). Most of it at that time was in the N.W. part of the country & unfortunately, being on the East Coast, I couldn't participate in any trials. I have participated in clinical trials through Johns-Hopkins though.

I can sorta relate. I used to be 130 pounds. Then I got sick and lost almost 10 pounds in 4 days. I couldn't eat, it wouldn't stay down and if it did, I suffered from constant gas pains (I wasn't eating any gassy foods, either). For whatever reason, my intestines were becoming distended and my body was creating its own gas; my stomach acid was working into overdrive. Constant pain and I was literally afraid to eat, which made me lose more weight. Any medicine I took either didn't work or was short lived (I had Pepcid injected into me that coated the stomach, which was a nice feeling and settled the stomach. . .until I ate some plain toast). I was taking prescribed acid reducing pills (2x a day, which is not normal when it comes to taking this kind of pill) in order for me to eat something and have it stay down. Had an ando/colonoscopy done; nothing was found so it is unknown of what triggered this whole situation which lasted for about 3 months.

I went from a size 10 to a size 6 in jeans. Everyone said that I looked good. Before all this, I was 160 pounds and then dropped to 130 pounds(healthily), is one thing. 130 was my goal and I told them this when I was losing weight begin with; after I met my goal I didn't lose any mroe weight. When I dropped more weight due to being sick, they acted like it was a good thing. It's not! All the weight that I lost was muscle mass. I am weaker than what I was before. For whatever reason, I can't seem to get back at 130.

I already know that if I gain weight/muscle mass, someone is going to criticize me.

Wow. I hope everything is all right for both of you.

Same here from me, Checkmate!

Checkmate, I don't know how tall you are, but 130 doesn't seem overweight to ME! I've managed to lose about 20 lbs, and it's taken me nearly 2 years to do it. Right now I'm at 134 & would like to see 125. That won't make me a size 2, probably an 8, but that would be GREAT! Anyway, it's like I said, those skinny supermodels convinced actresses that they had to get down to 110 lbs and size 2, and now people think we ALL are supposed to look like that. But those supermodels either have abnormal metabolisms, OR they are literally starving themselves - my guess is the 2nd one. And there are cancer patients out there who are size 2, I don't think they're terribly happy either. Tell anyone who criticizes you to GET A LIFE!

5'7". I know I wasn't overweight, however, a lot of people believe that if you are 5'7", you should be a 100 pounds and no more. It's ridiculous. My master's thesis in college was about eating disorders and models and how they affected teenage girls.

When I was in high school, I went to a modeling school and our weight was being monitored. We were told what exercises to do, yet, we weren't told what foods to eat. So, that was a half-assed job when it came to the 'health' issue in the class.

Going back to this topic, it doesn't matter how skinny you are. Skinny doesn't = healthy, just like fat doesn't = unhealthy. My stepfather is skinny and he exercises every day, but he has more problems than my mother (who is overweight due to a thyroid problem).

Thanks to those that wish me and Beth good things.

Luckily I get to avoid most of the issue Airplaines and such, But since I had to switch to office work ten years ago there is one constant. One extraordinary fat woman who eats thru two or more shopping bags of food a day, then has the nerve to want the rest of us to feel sorry for her.

Aside from this 8hrs a day of being trapped with the whiner, I'd say live as let live. People judge always have always will. Live with it or don't but dont ask for pity I'm out.

Thank you all for the good wishes. I came out of things fine many years ago. I hope "Checkmate" is OK too.

Now, I'm weighing more than I'd like and hubby and I have been on a walking/veggie plan to get back to where we need to be. Something that has actually worked -- I've been seeing/reading about the "larger dinner plate" thing. We went to smaller plates -- and even though I KNOW I'm being psyched -- it seems to work!

I know what you mean. Ever since I started running, all kinds of people strated talking to me.

Sad, but true.

And it really sucks people are this way. Who made them god, judge and jury over others lifes. Shows how really ugly they are and who cares what they think. Be who you are.

In my opinion, some folks are just tragically shallow. What's inside is all that counts. Cruelty to anyone because of something they cannot help, like bad genes or diseases that trash the metabolism, is wrong. As a person ages, his metabolism slows down. Menopause causes weight gain too.

Cruelty is always wrong and so is bigotry. "But for the grace of God, go I." And, if you are slim right now, you never know what's going to strike your body in which you have no control. Then you are the fat person on an airplane at the mercy of a shallow and very empty soul.

sorry about misspelled words. fingers going faster than eyes. must be the soy milk I just had.

Blu, those aren't misspelled words. Those are merely typos. I cannot believe people are so utterly shallow. After all, all that matters is a good heart, a kind tongue and a loving soul. Good people can be slim/fat, crippled/or standing/ gay or straight, and the soul and heart does not rest in the color of the skin. It is all about what resides in the human heart and soul, right!

Eloquent, skor!

Have you seen the food Americans eat? That is the problem. How many carbohydrates to people dump into the mouths each day? Those are fast calories that add up. Then we go all low fat and eat even more because somehow adding sugar to our food instead of fat makes it better?!?!?!

Low fat yogurt with 'fruit' is worse for you than full fat vanilla yogurt, yet somehow people think this is a heath food. Bleached flour is about worthless nutrition wise, but we consume more of it than any other product.

Then we need to realize that carrots, corn, and potatoes are not vegetables and stop eating so many of them.

Go to KFC and eat a grilled doubledown, it is better for you than that subway sandwich. We have drugs to treat everything, because we are too lazy to treat ourselves. They are contributing. Then you say plastics are making us fat somehow? Did the plastic tube make the people eat that bread? Did the plastic tube put dextrose in your deli meat?

Seriously, we put sugar in deli meats. EVEN OUR MEAT HAS SUGAR! This is a problem. Fat is satisfying and causes you to eat less, sugar has the opposite effect. You want more sugar after you eat it.

Grendel: My oldest son, 41, who is not a lb. overwt., says it's from "High Fructose Corn Syrup" in EVERYTHING we eat. Start cking. the labels on ALL foods & even ones you would never believe have this in the product, & you will find it listed as the 1st, or 2nd. ingredient.

BTW, for those with any kinda of arthritis esp. Fibromyalgia (100 different kinds listed in this category ), I try all kinds of little tricks to help me get exercise even on days I don't feel well. Example: I'm doing laundry now, so I do a load & maybe make 1/2 side of the bed, then come back on here & read/write, then go back to put the load in the dryer & unload the dishwasher. It's slow going, but it IS exercise & the feeling of "accomplishment" is such a good feeling I get a ton of more things done that way too. My only inviolate rule is to NEVER STAY IN BED in the morning. I get out no matter what. That's my 1st. accomplishment for the day, so if I get nothing else much done, I have done that!

And yet our major food manufactures WANT you to eat more white flour products, corn and corn products, (just ask anyone with a corn allergy how hard it is to find foods without it, including a lot of meat) It is very difficult to get away from foods that are full of corn syrup, extra fats. Take a walk down the ceral aisle of any big super market, (Whole Foods not included) can you even find the low fat, non-sugared ceral? Are any of them on sale? I'll bet they aren't, but any ceral with extra sugar and fat probably is. Plain old Cheerios may be good for you, but can you find it in the collection of frosted Cheerio types?

The US Army found out years ago that not steering cattle and feeding them on grass makes a leaner steer, with a lot of lean muscle on it. But major farming interests steer the cattle and feed them on corn making them carry a lot of fat filled meat and not as much lean muscle. Pork same, chicken raised in small cubicles and fed on salted corn to make them more thirsty, then given water with chemicals to make them hungry. Our food is unhealthy, but what is anyone doing about that? Not a thing...it's our food that is causing alot of these health problems, you can watch it happen while our diet is spread to fresh victims over seas.

The chemicals in the preservatives and plastics that also perserve the food so it has a longer shelf life are being suspected of leaking into the food itself thereby getting into our bodies and decreasing the body's ablity to rid itself of some calories, (those in fat especially)

Someone just did a poll between Whole Foods' customers and the customers of other major food chains and found that the average Whole Foods customer is slimmer than the customers of other food chains. In other words that Whole Foods costomers have a lower obseisty index than those of other stores. The survey talked about economic factors as being at the root. I can see that, as Whole Foods is more expensive, but I would like someone to do a further study: for instance what is the ratio of convience food between the two groups? Fresh vegetable? Fresh meat? Then anyalize the actual calories, fats, sugars, preservatives, chemicals and other things between the groceries bought from Whole Foods and the ones from other chains.

It is easy to say, "she/he should lose weight" but getting to the root causes of this epidemic isn't going to be so simple, since it is a world wide epidemic now, not just an American one.

Wonder what Bill M NY will look like at 60? Probably still so full of himself, he will have a fat head.

I know I have no excuses, but to change a life time of habits and pleasures probably causes more psychologicalconflicts which might cause even more bad habits associated with weight gain. But enough of that conjecture, as it should be nobody elses business as to what someone else does. Personally I am not overly happy with my physique right now and have struggled with my weight since I was 50. Prior to that I pretty much maintained a weight that fluctuated between 185 and 215 (I am 6'1") since I was 20. My weight depended more on how active I was since my eating habits pretty much stayed the same, which was really, really large volumes of everything the pundits decry as not good for you. Not stuff like twinkiesor sweets as I never had a taste for them or soft drinks, especially withcorn syrup as that leaves a nasty after taste. But I was guilty of having a couple of Big Macs for lunch and follow it up with a 36 oz steak for dinner more than once. My job entailed quite a bit of travel until I was into my early 40's so my excerise activity was dictated around availability and that is when I reached my 215# high'sat the time. Withmy travel curtailed and having a normal schedule, I became active playing league basketball twice a week, bicycling an average of 50 miles a week, playing tennis, running at least a mile a few times a week, and lifting heavy weights approximately four times a week. By the time I was 49, I was at my all time lowest adult weight of 185# with a BMI so low it made 20 year olds jealous. I even won a contest for the best male body competing against people half my age, with the votes coming mostly from females in their early twenties. That all changed on March 30th, 2003. While into the 3rd hour of round robin basketball competition I had what felt like a grizzly bear had grabbed me from behind an squeezed me so tight I could not breathe, I became nauseous, and very dizzy. I managed to get myself out of the game and compose myself enough to get home but went to bed that night withthe thought if I would see the next morning. The next morning I woke up feeling as though a truck had run over me, totally sore all over, massive headache, absolutely no energy. On the way to work I called my Doc and was told to go directly to a hospital. Took all day, but the diagnosis was that I had a heart attack. Turns out I have coronary heart disease and they put a couple of stents in. This is while having extremely low "bad" cholesterol, high "good" cholesterol, and moderate to low triglycerides. Under Doc's orders, I had to give up my competitive basketball and he wanted me to change my other work out habits, more lower impact less things that I like to do. I was also put on blood thinners (I've now stopped this), blood pressure medicine, and a cholesterol control drug. Within THREE months I gained FORTY pounds! Oh yea, I also reduced my food intake by at least 1/2, down to about 2500 calories a day (initially prescribed by my dietitian). Over the next six years I have gained another twenty pounds which I loose and gain back annually....AND I am down to 1500 calories a day! I am still trying to run at least a mile three or four times a week, I walk 20 miles a week, cut my acre yard with a push mower, got rid of my snow blower and I can not get my weight in check. Last year I went on a self imposed diet of 750 calories a day that yielded a 11# weight loss over a TWO MONTH period and a trip to the hospital. My weight is affecting my position at work as the company is cognizant of my appearance in public so they have started asking me to send other representatives to our customers...if I can not get this under control I fear that I will lose my job. My Doc says I am between a rock and a hard spot, the BP medicine probably reduces my natural metabolism by at least 50% and the cholesterol meds inhibit turning fat into energy...so ok Bill what I am I supposed to do? You seem to have the answers.

I can see Bill's point about carbs...but Carrots, potatoes, and corn? Really....do your research, carrots are very healthy for you, I've heard of people being cured from cancer by drinking carrot juice for a few months. Bill, I'm sure you mean well, but you should really do your research when it comes to carbs, fruits are full of carbs, and they are the most nourishing and healing food you can put in your body, so are vegetables, EVERY kind of it. I recommend you read the series of books "Fit for Life" and if you're still skeptical, go online and research what it talks about. You wont live much longer if you stick to eating fattening meats, and yes even chicken breast has fat, and no carbs. That's just a whole lot of crap, sure it's great for weight loss, but it sure doesn't make you healthy.

And for the people claiming that being fat is not their fault, I just wonder if they've tried eating all raw for a few months. I"m sure a lot of you will say, ahh there comes another one of these idiots talking about natural cures, but before you judge natural cures and alternative medicine, try it. You've got nothing to lose.

Oh, Rob, I am so deeply sorry for all your health problems. Recently, MSNBC reported that they finally discovered the fountain of youth, the vegetarian diet. Whole grains, lots of veggies and fruits are all that are truly good for you. For instance, eating blueberries equates to zero caloric intake because you use more calories to digest the natural fiber in them than their caloric numeric. Also, fiber takes longer to digest, thus it fills a person up quicker. Also, have they checked your thyroid function, although thyroid disease is mainly female, but I insist my husband has his checked regulary.

Vegetables are very good for you, very low in calories, high in nutritives and phytochemicals. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe it is legal to lose your job because of obesity.

Also, take small bites of food and take lots of time to chew it as this might help you feel fuller faster. If you are still hungry, try waiting 20 minutes before resuming eating as it takes some time for the brain to signal to you, that you are satisfied. And, try vegetarianism.

I hope you feel much better real soon, and I hope you don't lose your job. If you do, check the legality of it. You will be in my good thoughts and prayers, THE BEST TO YOU, ROB!

For fibromyalgia sufferers i read that high cocoa dark choc helps a lot,try and find at least 70%

Rob, My son lost gobs of weight on this fitness and diet program. His bp and cholesterol took a fast nosedive. Check out Beachbodies.com and all their programs. It really works for my son. A low, low fat, low sugar, high fiber diet, yoga and awesome exercise. Good Luck.

There live and there's living.. the current BMI leaves nothing according to that everyone is overweight! Since I wrecked my back I'm about 10 to 20lbs overweight. I eat the cake when it's in front of me, and stay away from fast food and most all chain restaurants. Not perfect, not complaining. I could do the extreme exercise and vegetable thing but that'd leave no room to enjoy life either.

If you don't like yourself fix your self. It's not rocket science to lose weight Stop eating. Take a sabbatical to Ethiopia nobody fat there!. Or accept how you are and don't worry about extra airline fees and what everyone else thinks. Enjoy life.

skor, I do NOT have high cholesterol, just the opposite in fact. I appreciate the concern and would follow your advice, but I already have a very aerobic exercise program and to be honest, even though I try to "eat what food eats" I have never had a strong taste for things that grow out of the ground. I try, rhubarb is my favorite veggie right in front of spinach, but I just eat the stuff to make my wife happy.

As far as this:

Rob, My son lost gobs of weight on this fitness and diet program. His bp and cholesterol took a fast nosedive.

Is your son sixty years old too?

And what does this have to do with the article? Just wondering...

Any excuse to bash Democrats (who aren't socialists) is all these people do. Other than disagree with every idea and fail to have an idea of their own to solve anything. Those 8 years of George Wrongwar Bush apparently didn't register with them.

I prefer Democracy to the fascism being pushed by the teabagging idiots who use every excuse to type or say the word "socialist" in context to whatever it is they're disagreeing with at the moment.

Now we get 8yrs of B. Obomber. and more wars than ever.. It's not funny.. So hows that change working out for you?

agreed...this story will only enable ppl who do not have a legitimate reason for their weight gain to continue to be unhealthy

I absolutely agree with you. I don't know how often I will be walking through a store and there is some little kid who wobbles back and forth down the aisle because their legs are so big they can't walk normally. Every time I see a child like this I want to cry, then I want to strangle their parents. It really saddens me to see what these parents are doing to their children, all because they are too lazy to cook a real meal for their kids or tell them to go play outside. Unfortunately, for too many Americans, junkfood and WII have become our babysitters. Obesity has become such a problem in America that schools are now performing obesity tests on children and sending the results home with report cards encouraging parents to speak to their doctors if their child falls above a certain percent ratio. Is it really necessary for the school's to tell parents their child is fat?

The school is the problem to begin with. My daughter is 4 and goes to daycare, and I am not allowed to pack her breakfast or lunch because the daycare is on the "state food program" so no food from the outside is allowed unless she has diabetes or a special diet approved by the doctor. Therefore I want to give my daughter grapes or raisin bran for breakfast, which I do, I have to wake up earlier so she can eat at home before I take her to daycare, but when she gets to school she can still eat their breakfast and it usually is a sausage biscuit or something like that. Ridiculous. And then when she starts school the state's food is not any better, french fries, burgers, chicken tenders... really? Thank God I can pack her school lunch, but I can't control what she eats at school. And then the school has the nerve to send you a letter saying the kids are obese?? Then stop feeding them junk!!! Geeze!!! I dont know where this country is headed. The education system is a joke, and now this?

The minute the school lunches change they'll call Michelle Obama a food nazi. Then they'll clamor that healthy food costs the taxpayers too much and hurts the farmers.

It all started when Ronnie Reagan said that ketchup was a vegetable as he changed the school lunch program to push large doses of high fructose corn syrup. Coincidentally, this was when big government started heavily subsidizing the corn farmers at the time. What was the guy's name? I think it was Earl Butz, but that could just be my desire to make a silly joke.

But, good news! Healthy school lunches are part of Mrs. Obama's program to stop childhood obesity. How "socialistic" of her!

all i disagree with mrs obama is, is that i dont believe the government should be allowed to control the school lunches, if i want my kid to be healthy i send them with a packed lunch, no money then they cant buy the food, as a treat sometimes i give them money for school lunch so they can have a burger and chips, unhealthy food isnt bad is you have it occasionally, government needs to stay out of it, what happened to parental responsibility.

The government should stay out of school lunch because the first lady is promoting healthier school lunches? Seriously, don't you know the school lunch program is subsidized by government funding?

flgirl - I would guess that a more accurate reason your daycare does not allow food from home is because of the possibility of allergies in the daycare, I know that is why our daycare didn't allow outside foods.

As far as school lunches goes, I have a second grader and a kindergartener, neither of which have ever eaten a school lunch, we send a bag lunch every day with a peanut butter sandwich, granola bar, whole grain goldfish crackers and a juicy juice box. And the school didn't tell me my children were fat, they were actually in the average to below average range, even though they are both the tallest in their classes. However, I have to disagree that the school is to blame for children being obese, the school provides one, maybe two meals a day, both of which you can opt out of by feeding them breakfast at home and sending their lunch. These two meals are not going to make a child fat, it is the crap parents are feeding them at home and parents allowing themselves to park their fat little butts in front of the TV screen or video game all day and night long that is causing children to be fat.

As far as school lunches goes, I have a second grader and a kindergartener, neither of which have ever eaten a school lunch, we send a bag lunch every day with a peanut butter sandwich, granola bar, whole grain goldfish crackers and a juicy juice box.

I'm surprised that the school didn't jump on them for the panut butter sandwiches (some schools do for allergy reasons).

Nate, totally agree, it isn't the school's fault that the kids are fat. I've seen parents at grocery stores and the stuff they buy for the kids its ridiculous. However, the school shouldn't be sending letters telling the parents that their kids are fat and not setting an example at the school. Instead of feeding them french fries and burgers they should have healthier lunches. My daughter starts school this year and you better believe I will be packing her lunch because I dont want her eating that junk. But I feel that if the government is subsidizing the school lunches then they should make a requirement that they service healthier food. It would sure help with the health bills and keep the kids weights under control. Or at least set an example for the kids. Instead of telling parents their kids are fat and feeding them junk at school.

I'd start again.

The rich are going to pay for healthcare from now on so why give up something that feels good.

Besides, if it is OK for the president...

Then what are you complaining about, start smoking again thinking that will make you feel better. Get a life dude, for real! It's for your own good, do you really think that inhaling 23 chemicals at the same time every time you smoke a cigarette was preventing you from disease? Maybe you feel like crap now because of all the years of smoking. So just go for it and go complain about how much your spending. I can't stand people that are constantly complaining about everything!

You know what, you're right. Let's not medicate anyone for anything ever. After all, it's just a bunch of hypochondriacs. The answer is so simple! Cancer? Nope. No medication. Heart disease? Too bad. You're on your own. Lung disease? Forget it. You don't need anything. Why didn't we all listen to Suite Judy? She's got to be as good as a doctor.

You've got to be kidding me.

That was actually what I was just about to say Judy. The reason our health care bills are so outrageous is because everyone who gets a headache goes running to the ER for meds. People are so dependant on medicine that they don't even know what it feels like to be not on million scripts.

Then people try to tout how horrible our health care is. Um... maybe if you didn't utilize it every single day because your tummy hurts it wouldn't cost an average of 7,000 per year to keep you alive.

I haven't been to the hospital .... um... ever, for a disease. Not once. I went once for a broken bone in a car accident, and once for food poisoning because I couldn't keep any water down... and I only went when I started seeing double from dehydration after spending the entire night sleeping with my head in the toilet trying to sip water in the 10 minute intervals that I wasn't spewing.

When I was a kid my parents put me on anti-depressents, which I was on for like 3 years or so to treat "post traumatic stress" from my car accident. Yeah... well once I was an adult I stopped that nonsense.

That is what happens when people stop taking responsibility for themselves. They look at everything as a problem that only modern medicine can solve. Even if the problem wasn't there until AFTER you went to the doctor heh.

Suite, you don't know what a person's pain level is. Every single person is different. I knew a guy who walked on a broken ankle and could handle the pain, but I also know that there are people out there that wouldn't be able to take that pain. You want proof? Go into a hospital where women are giving birth, naturally. You have women giving birth with and without drugs. I don't know how many mothers I have heard say that child birthing was a breeze and they didn't feel a thing to their daughters and when their daughters went into labor, they went WTF?!

Do people want to be on pills? Yes, but that doesn't mean everyone that takes pills does. People take pills because there is something wrong and the pill can help. When I was sick, I was losing weight, I was in pain, and I was literally afraid to eat. I was prescribed a pill that slowly stopped the pain and made it that I can eat something without throwing it back up/having pain later. Did I want to be on that pill? No, but I needed to be on the pill in order to have a functioning life.

Obviously none of you have ever had migraines. Migraines not only give you a headache, they can affect your vision, cause you to lose sensation to half of your body (you think you are having a stroke), make you so sensitive to light that you can't open your eyes, etc. The only times I've gone to the ER for migraines were when I completely lost sensation for half of my body or when I had had such a headache for days or weeks that I could not eat or get out of bed or open my eyes. Other meds I take are because I cannot function without them; and I have a family that expects me to clean and cook dinner for them, etc. Not to take the meds would be not to take responsibility.

Agreed, seen too much. I never had a migraine, but I know people who did. And yet there are idiots saying, "oh, they have a small headache." That is bs.

Don't need meds??? If I came to your neighborhood (along with a few people like myself, not medicated), believe me, you would once again want to have people on meds. We can be seriously disruptive to society!! Having serious emotional and mental illness is not a fun life...never has been. But staying on meds keeps me able to take care of myself, not hurt myself and also, now I can be just like "other people".

Callie: I'm just glad that

1.) You found something that works for you in psychotropic meds.

2.) You are able to stay on them

Suite, you appear to be a shallow and empty, little soul. Your bigotry and cruelty are proof. You may be thin right now, but you, too, could develop hypothyroidism, and I wouldn't want to sit next to you on an airplane as well. The quality of your character might ruin mine because we would be breathing the same filthy, polluted air. Your pollution would hurt my soul.

You never judge a book or a soul because of the cover. It is all about what is in the heart, character and soul that is worthwhile, worth the living. "But for the grace of God, go I"

I think what Suite Judy meant is that we take medication for the smallest things that maybe don't need medication. Judy I agree with you; there is a lot of alternative medicine out there and natural medicine. But why would they change the system. The health care industry is the biggest money maker in this country. They wont give up without a good fight, even if it takes making people sick by giving them medication they didn't need in the first place. What a shame.

flgirl, I was referencing Suite's airplane experience with an obese individual. It was cruel and vicious, very distasteful, in my opinion. Gee, when I see someone fatter than I, I feel deeply sorry for them.

I feel the same way about all victims of genetics, cancer, afflictions and disease. This nation has a facist view of beauty. If she ain't blonde, fair and blue-eyed, she's nothing. What about character, ethics, kindness, sweetest and tolerance? What is the human experience all about, after all, all that glitters and is tinsel, or honor, ethics and basic human decency.

Regarding natural medicine: my doctor prescribed natural medicine-vitamens, herbs for my migraines before he even considered prescription meds. They did not work. He does not use narcotics at all except in extreme emergencies.

seen too much: Your Dr. sounds like a responsible physician going from least to most. Good medical practice.

That said, I'm not too big on homeopathic treatments/vitamins/ supplements because they have no efficacy record & I've found so many people for whom they do not work. The ONLY "supplement" I know of that really did help ME for FMS was melatonin ( 1mg. or 3mg. dosages) sold OTC. Melatonin is necessary for deep-rem (rapid eye movement) sleep-produced by the body naturally- & w/o it, sleep is not refreshing. It is lacking to one degree or another in FMS patients. However, it's efficacy was not as good as a low-dose med. I take at bedtime.

BTW, I DO have a high tolerance for pain. I've come out of major surgery & only needed one pain shot & I do not, nor have I ever taken anything for pain at the Dentists' except for extractions, i.e.wisdom teeth.

seen to much...I'm glad your doctor tried the natural way first, however, natural medicine is not all about prescribing natural stuff and for it to work. Natural medicine is a lifestyle change. If you were taking herbs and stuff but didn't make changes in your diet, it will not work. I dont know how you eat or how you excersice, however, I've known of people with horrible migranes that have added more fruits and vegetables and exercise along with cutting meat and most processed food and have stopped getting migraines. Most natural supplements DO NOT work it is about changing your lifestyle, forever, not for a few days until your symptoms go away.

Changes in diet, lifestyle, and exercise were and are also a part of my treatment.

True. Everyone seems to assume that every fat person is the way they are because they ate too much/don't exercise. This isn't true. Some people have illnesses that cause them to gain weight. Some people take medication that has a side effect of weight gain or increased hunger or exhaustion.

When my brother was on steroids (I believe it was after he broke his collar bone), he ate everything in the freakin' house. It was ridiculous. However, he was also extremely active so he didn't really gain weight.

Everyone assumes that because my brother is 'skinny,' he doesn't eat. You want to be proved wrong? Take my brother out to a restaurant/diner that isn't expesnive. He will cost you $50.00 easy with the amount of food that he eats.

g.p. has no intelligence. The more he posts, the lower his IQ is!

Proof, g.p.? Becuase I know a lot of skinny people who are really dumb, but I am not saying that all skinny people are dumb.

No, I generally do not "brake" a scale, however I do "brake" when I want to slow or stop my car or bike. So it seems, g.p., that your ignorance is showing again...

g.p.: wonder what kind of I.Q. it takes for someone to misuse basic English grammar as in, to "BREAK" a scale? A skinny IDIOT?

GP, I am one, big fat blob, and I am more intelligent than almost everyone on the planet. I am obese because I have hypothyroidism, a killer of the metabolism. Did I wish this disease upon myself? Now, use that IQ of yours.

I wouldn't trade my mind, no way, for a skinny body because the more evolved the mind, the greater the vision, and I am not discussing eye sight.

Thanks! (Whitenoise-I need to remember that one!)

skor - hypothyroidism is no excuse, my mother had that, her thyroid count was so low it barely registered but she didnt gain weight due to a strict exercise and diet routine until the meds got her thyroid under control, now she is on medication she can actually lose weight, dont make excuses on conditional that are treatable.

Everyone's body and reaction to medication is different, so congratulations hometowngirl, your mom wins! Are you proud of yourself now?

Home, I also believe genetics shape the person, the person is in. I am confident, I consume far less food than some of my slim friends, who consume almost twice as much as I. As I am elderly, I also cannot exercise as I did when I was young.

I am also going bald because of my dead thyroid. Many women who have this condition do not go bald. Both my mother and grandmother inherited hypothyroidism, yet they retained as much hair as ever.

Geeze, I am very fat and am going bald. Aren't I goin be a pretty sight?

skor: I still luv 'ya! lol. You go girl!

Wow - What a bunch of moralistic judgemental and ignorant bloggers. When you have your medical condition and are forced to take steriods, or when you blow a knee (or both) or hip, then you can speak to HOW to control weight. What you idiots dont realize is, if the subject of this article was not watching it, she would weigh even more.

Yes, Americans eat too much crap, and exercise can be a challenge for worker/commuters who have kids waiting to descend. And yes, pharma rules medicine. But sometimes, due to severe illness or injury, medication is part of the solution.

So to all you holier and better than thous expounding on healthy lifestyles, I am confident that once the shoe is on the other foot, and your healthy workouts generate injuries, or genetics wipe out your thyroid, or you just get OLD, remember your diatribesand hateful words. I guarantee they will come back to haunt you when you are treated the same way.

So, according to "truth is the answer", the woman who had a BRAIN TUMOR!!!!! on the gland that REGULATES METABOLISM was simply a pig who ate too much and should not have had treatment.....UGH! I HATE WILLFUL IGNORANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

gp, the meds may have as a side effect that they make you very hungry; they don't make you fat, but they do make it much harder not to eat more. Before you pass judgement on others' self control, perhaps you should take the meds yourself and see how your self control stacks up. Some of us with hypoglycemia have an even harder time, as our blood sugar is even more unstable with these meds. If you have never had low blood sugar, then you have no idea how horrible it feels and how much you need to eat something when you have it.

then please do me a favor Truth to Care. don't have kids, because I don't want to pay for you or your female breeding partner's breeding. I also don't want to have to pay for your brat(s)' healthcare, in the form of vacinations, well visits etc, (that MY insurance goes to cover) Also don't have any operations, blood transfusions, or use any medication at all for anything, cause see I don't believe humans should continue to breed, or have any health care that makes their lives better, or even saves their lives.

Guess what, no insurance company will give me the choice to only pay for those services I use, (two broken bones, a respitory incident and a digestive incident in 56 years) I mean why should I pay for breeders to have kids? We all pay for things we don't use, don't need and don't believe in, if you want to be the exception, don't buy insurance!

Seen too much - you are absolutely correct about hypoglycemia, until your blood sugar drops so quickly you can't stand because you are shaking so badly, not to mention the blinding headaches that follow, you cannot judge what a person is going through. Unfortunately, for those of us with hypoglycemia, the only way to control it is to eat regularly and for your diet to be high in carbohydrates, as protein and fiber does not maintain blood sugar as well. Does this mean everyone with hypoglycemia is overweight? Absolutely not, but if you compile hypoglycemia with any medication that can cause weight gain, even something as simple as birth control, the effects are even worse.

Don't you understand? The stories outlined here ARE the rare conditions. And look at you still being judgmental. Did you even read the article?

I cannot walk for even 5 minutes!!!! And I do eat a healthy diet. 5'2" and 156 lbs isn't too bad and I'm doing all I can to hold it at that!

callie: I have a pretty good idea who these "trolls" on here are & believe me, in years to come, Karma can be a REAL @!$%#. I've seen it way too often. We won't know, but hopefully THEY will remember their gross ignorance not to mention intolerance.

Carolyn, inherently, as you age, your metabolism slows down. Same for menopause. As you grow older, it is more difficult to exercise. I have hypothyroidism, and compared to some of my slim friends, I eat far less than they.

For the most part, I eat a low-fat, almost totally, organic, vegetarian diet. And, I am very obese. While I take hormone therapy for my dead thyroid gland, it does not impact my obesity problem. My problem is, my metabolism is always stuck in slow gear. And, I am also elderly.

if your metabolims is slow you need to reduce your calorie intake. sorry its still calories in vs calories out, even for these medical conditons, if you have a condition that slows your thyroid, changes your metabolism etc you have to adjust your calories, maybe 1500 a day is ok for a normal person but maybe you need to eat 1000 calories a day? may sound low but if thats the speed you are burning them up thats all you need, sorry but weight can be controlled with any disease, its up to you make the chice ad have the disclipine to do it

Hometown, thanks for splendid advice. Probably, I am remiss in consuming too many calories. However, I am soooo envious of my skinny friends, who eat me under the table. The best to you and all you love.

Yes, eliminate grains, starches, proteins, leafy greens, root vegetables and fruits as well, and you'll lose a ton of weight.

You'll be six feet under, but at least you'll finally be able to fit into that cute dress.

Since my name is "Skip", doubt I will be much interested in that "cute dress". You must be one of those we are discussing here to have made your comment. I dare you to look up truthinlabeling.org or msgmyth.com. It will open your eyes.

g.p.- you need to spend acouple of days doing organic mescaline and learn about people, life, and the world around you.

Since my name is "Skip", doubt I will be much interested in that "cute dress".

But that floral pattern flatters your hips so nicely.

You must be one of those we are discussing here to have made your comment.

Which one of those? Several people have been the subject of all these comments.

I dare you to look up truthinlabeling.org or msgmyth.com. It will open your eyes.

No, Skipper. I dare YOU... to check out my diet. I like to drink both milk and soy milk (especially the latter, if it's chocolate flavored), I love ANYTHING with tomatoes, especially soups and sauces, I frequently eat snacks with rice gluten, I regularly drink both sodas and diet sodas, I often slather and/or drown my RED MEATS in sauces containing high amounts of HFCS and/or MSG, I eat sugary candies and chocolates, and don't deny myself Doritos or chocolate cake with buttercream frosting. In fact, I had both over the weekend, and a couple of days ago, had two chocolate ice cream sundaes with all sorts of preservative-laden sugary toppings. I love Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, and Subway, and often visit these sites among others.

How's that? Were you able to read all of that while keeping your breast of cage-free skinless chicken and crown of organic boiled broccoli down?

MJD: What a wussie. You have to take Xanax for a "flight-anxiety" problem? What's wrong with you? Just take deep breathes. I NEVER HAVE A PROBLEM WITH FLYING. HELL, I love to FLY EVEN WITH MY SON DOING ROLL-OVERS. Commercial flights are a no-brainer as far as stress is concerned.

GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER & LEARN TO DEAL WITH YOUR INSECURITIES. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WILL-POWER!

BTW, Xanax is a "controlled substance." Enjoy the 'high"?

V. Bevis - Really? Your judging MJD is no better than him judging people for being overweight. Great, you have no fear of flying, that does not mean no one should have a fear of flying. For all you know, MJD may have lost someone in a plane crash, or been one of the few lucky people that have survived a plane crash.

And BTW, yes, Xanax is a controlled substance, but it actually creates a low, not a high.

natedom: <sigh> Are our schools REALLY THAT dumbed down? I believed that everyone on here reading comments & esp. mine (above) would "get it."

The analogy I gave is a perfect one for someone with little to no tolerance for people not like themselves, i.e. MJD.

P.S. IF you had read the above posts here Ii made, (1.4, 2.10, 4.5, & 7.2) you would know that I am quite knowledgeable concerning meds. I have a Master's Degree in Nursing! I'm also a highly empathetic person, hence my profession.

V. Bevis - I simply fail to see how attacking a person, even if just as an analogy, manages to add anything to the conversation, other than to make you look just as shallow and narrow minded as them. Do you really think MJD is going to see your analogy and think, hey, maybe I am wrong? Ignorant, narrow-minded people like themselves aren't quite that intuitive.

natedom: Your point IS well taken, but time-after-time I've seen/heard/read people make unbelieveable remarks only to later understand how egregious they truly are by using THEIR circumstances to make the point.

Re-read his (her?) comments loaded with an intolerant attitude, but also admitting it is "O.K." in THEIR case if the "weakness" is their's.

We ALL grow & change & hopefully learn from our mistakes or ignorance. Believe me, I've been put in my place often enough. I just vowed NEVER to make the same mistake twice; there are lots of new ones waiting to be made.

P.S. Ck the number of "checks" on your post here & then ck. mine. Obviously SOMEONE got what I was saying; it just wasn't you.

g.p., you ARE talking about people with illnesses, which is what the article was about! Careful, your IQ is dropping with every ignorant post you make.

Just flag G.P. as "no value"..truely he is adding no value to this conversation if he didn't even read the article.

Lots of posts by g.p. just calling names and throwing insults. Doesn't help g.p. You turn people off with your negativity and condescension.

g.p. my little troll, keep going like this. You are doing a splendid job showing your colors.

Hedwig: ever notice how "these" types come out after school is done for the yr.? Wonder how they stay so "slim" sitting here throwing "snot-grams' all day?

Oh yes V. Bevis, you are quite right I am sure <grin> . I think g.p.'s reaction to weight must stem from some deep rooted issue in his own life. But I can only hope that he is young yet and will eventually grow up. In the event that he won't (grow up), I can only hope that he cannot procreate nor that he will ever be placed in a parenting position. This sort of mindless stupidity should remain unique to only one individual... g.p. Unfortunately there are many of those 'types'.

The article does not insinuate that they do Sky. It is talking about the rare conditions. I am really surprised about the level of ignorance in the comments on this page. Well..actually no, I'm not.

The thyroid gland and related bodily functions determine HOW the calories are PROCESSED; that's the difference.

g.p.: apparently complete ignorance is some sort of drug and bliss to you...........

At the end of the day, it still takes roughly a 100 calories to move a person from point A to point B, and a basal level of calories to pump blood, breathe, etc.

Miska, I was reminded of this: http://www.tmcm.com/comics/tmcm100621.gif

daggerdag: can you say-"En-do-crin-ology?"

I don't believe we should have to pay for obese people anymore than I believe we should have to pay for people who don't want to work. However, there are people out there who have legit reasons for being overweight and they cannot get that weight off. It happens and it isn't laziness, often it's meds they are on that causes the gain and makes it impossible to get off. I don't think we are responsible to pay for this, but our society needs to be more understanding of people who are overweight.

should we pay for the medical problems of people who are too thin? anorexics and bulimics have health problems too; some deadly.

And we shouldn't have to pay for the ignorance of others. Unfortunately, we'll be paying for yours for a long time.

Fred Evil: prime example of our "dumbed down" educational system.

LOL I Am? How? Please share your illustrious insight...!

To answer you Fred, this is how you are an example of our "dumbed down" educational system. Instead of allowing g.p. to express his simply stated opinion that we each shouldn't have to pay for the medical problems of others, you attack him as being ignorant, without stating any basis for your comment or explaining why you disagree. If you had spent a little more time achieving a more well rounded education then you would know that true ignorance is most strongly evidenced by those who rely upon insults, rather than reason. As a result, you merely end up sounding like a petulant grade school child.

It is rather ignorant of you to try and tell people theirs or their children's health is not worth some weight gain. While I have no idea what your particular medical issue is/was nor the effects of depakote and lithium, I do know that ADHD is a real medical condition. Yes, it is over diagnosed, but for some children, it is a real problem and medication is the only real answer. Also, I am not sure if you are insinuating that the medications used to correct ADHD cause weight gain or not, but if that is what you are getting at, where are you getting your information? The medications used to treat ADHD, with the exception of Stratera, are uppers, they increase your metabolism. Are you failing to realize what ADHD stands for? It is attention deficit HYPERACTIVITY disorder. One cannot be hyper and heavy, unless there is some other underlying medical condition.

Im not saying adhd doesnt exist because i havent met every child that 'has' it but all the children ive met do not have adhd they 'to much sugar and no excercise' syndrome, sweets, candies, soda's etc all laden with sugar and then they sit in front of the computer not burning it off and you wonder why they act up, kids by nature have tons of energy because they are kids but if you add sugar to the mix you are just asking for a hyper kid

I say weight gain is unhealthy and a child should only be medicated if the doctor is 100% sure that they have a disorder. And it wouldn't suprise me if some ADHD meds do cause weight gain. If they increase metabolism, then the weight loss could be as dangerous as gaining weight. And what I told parents really wasn't the bigger picture, the big picture was that the meds I was on were responsible for my weight gain, and I'm still struggling to lose it.

It blows my mind that people on medications accept terrible side fxs and do not question if there is someother way. Before I would ever take a drug that a doctor prescribes I find out what the known side fxs are. If the drug has side fxs that are devastating such as death,cancer,extreem weight gain,major organ failure ect ect I ask the doctor if there is not something with less side fxs. If not then I start doing my own research.

I have found that food has changed a lot in the past 30 years. GMO high fructose corn syurp is in so many foods that it did not used to be in apartame is also in many foods. I can't tell you how many people I have seen on oxygen and suffering with heart failure drinking a diet soda do they not see a connection? I believe that these additves do have an affect on wieght gain. People are lazy they want instant everything instant food has so many additives that I can't understand how it is called food how did the FDA approve of this crap? Why do people just accept it. I go to the grocery store and see six year old children who weigh more than I do and their mom with a butt that is wider than I am tall is pushing a basket full of instant food,chips, and foods loaded with High fructose corn syurp, aspartame, and other toxins and not one piece of fresh fruit or vegetables this is one of the main reason their is so much obesity in children and adults. I can't believe people can't see a relationship between what they are eating and how much they weigh. Denial is not a river in Egypt

I think doctors need to go back to school and take a few courses in nutrition so they can better advise their patients. Never in history has there been so many over weight people with thyroid conditions wtf is wrong with this picture?

Yes Yes YES! I totally agree! Nutrition has SO much to do with ALL health problems. Granted there are those few exceptions, but look up Jordan Rueben. His parents were healthnuts when he was a kid and so he was pretty healthy, until he got REALLY skinny. He was skin and bones basically. The doctors dianosed him with so many dieases and told him he only had x amount of time to live. He started to look for an alternative way of living/eating. and he started eating that way and he was cured of his diseases and has gained muscle.
There is an alternative was to all the medication and fad diets.

Hometowngirl - if you have met any child who supposedly had ADHD that was able to sit in front of a computer or tv for any great length of time then they obviously did not have ADHD as they are unable to sit still for any period of time, this is why they are medicated, to correct a chemical imbalance that causes their problem. I do believe a lot of children that have been diagnosed as having ADHD have been misdiagnosed and with a little discipline would be just fine.

Isis - I would imagine some children who go on ADHD medication do gain some weight, simply because it is slowing them down; however, I would hazard to guess most of those children could stand to gain a little weight because most children that actually have ADHD, not those who misbehave due to a lack of discipline, are underweight because of their constant motion. However, as I stated previously, with the exception of Stratera, all ADHD medications are uppers, which won't cause weight gain.

I feel sorry for you cuz the fat people make your life hard. Boo hoo. :-(