Fat children ‘should be taken into care’

I figure since at least a few of you know what I look like, I'll add my two pence.

I dislike fatism. It winds me up, because its a form of predujice that is hurtful and harmful. Anorexia comes from the belief that the individual belives through social pressures, that fat is bad.......and therefore, ipsofacto, thin is good.

This country in particular is weight-conscious, rather than health-conscious. Many people living here that appear to be a healthy size, actually have an unhealthy lifestyle - ie. smoking (which incidentally, is an appetite suppresent).

Scientifically, there are 3 main metabolic body types:
Ectomorph - fast burning metabolism, always slim, can eat almost anything without weight gain
Mesomorph - medium metabolism, medium to muscular build
Endomorph - slow metabolism, stores more fat on body from eating, normally heavy to fat

If its recognised that these various metabolic differences exist, then why the hate? Certain races are also slim and it is genetic, such as many East Africans; and others are large, such as Tongans?

Of course there are mesomorphs that over-eat and they become obese. Ectomorphs cannot become fat, as their body won't let them.

Lastly - are fat people unhealthy and slimmer people, healthy?

This will answer those of you that respect intelligent research.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/health/sns-ap-med-healthy-obesity,0,6822045.story
http://www.thefactsaboutfitness.com/research/fitorfat.htm

So, its not about size. Get over that. Fitness is different.

Fat people that are unfit, should lose weight. Big people that are fit, should enjoy their lives without ridicule. IMO.

Not sure what you look like, GA2G, but I very much agree with what you say - and that's why I posted the video I did. True, I don't think people should be encouraged to be fat - but I don't think that stigmatizing size is going to solve the problem. As someone said earlier, obese people are often miserable about their weight, and comfort-eat to compensate... and so it goes on. If fat people are able to feel good about their bodies, they'll probably feel less self-conscious about being seen exercising, and probably less addicted to fried chicken and coca cola. (And then on top of that we need to revolutionize society, open up the parks, flush out the flashers, pedestrianize the roads, subsidize the school dinners and ban junk food, so that it's easier to have a healthy lifestyle than not.)

I'm 'big', and would certainly be fat if I didn't exercise. As it is, I'm definitely an endomorph - despite my arms and legs being solid muscle, I still have a very squidgy mid-section. I'm very fit, and very healthy, but it's still taken me years to talk myself into liking my body. It's hard work, when you're bombarded day after day with fat-is-bad-fat-is-bad-fat-is-bad-fat-is-bad-fat-is-bad, and I don't know how the majority of people are going to develop any sort of positive body image with the media (etc.) working the way it does.

If I had kids (a familiar refrain), I'd make sure I always complimented on them on what their bodies were able to do, rather than what they looked like. After all, if you're capable of riding 100 miles in a day, fitting into clothes, and attracting anyone you want to, what else do you need?