Probably partially due the fact that I know a lot more underweight people than overweight people. I realize I don't live in rural middle America, but I wonder how it is I can watch the news and see a feature on "childhood the obesity problem" followed by a story on the rising anorexia rates among teenage girls.

I also have to wonder how "obesity" is measured. I'm willing to bet it is far overestimated. technically, I am "obese" because I am a certain number of pounds over an "ideal" weight for my height. But last time I checked there are a lot of factors other than height that determine what a person weighs. I'm a health food nut (was a vegetarian for a period), workout every day, and get around on foot or bike. I also have "perfect" cholesterol, low blood pressure, no insulin problems, and no joint problems...so I'm not "obese" and I'm not causing any "problems" nor am I at risk for any of these heath problems, BUT a statistician somewhere is probably counting me...(and where do they get these numbers anyway?)

I think it's all just the media jumping on something that is has always been a sensitive issue. It's easy because people don't like fat people. Now they're not stigmatized for being unattractive, they're being stigmatized for being unhealthy, so it's ok. But it's really a bunch of baloney. There are MILLIONS of thin people out there eating all the crap the fat people are eating. The difference is that different people use different fuels in different ways.

The point being, by focusing on "obesity" we are focusing on the symptom rather than the true problem- unhealthy foods and sedentary lifestyles. Instead of basing childhood obesity rates on how much kids weigh, let's look for childhood HEALTH rates and monitor what kids are eating and what activity they're not getting.

I think you're right in saying that the occurrence of obesity in this country is overestimated. There are a lot of very fat people out there, but there are also a lot of athletes, bodybuilders, and people who actually ARE "big-boned" whose BMI is in the "obese" range. BMI is just an equation into which you plug your weight and height: it does not take your build or the composition of your weight into account.

Amen!

I will admit to being overweight; I am nobody's idea of thin. But obese? no. I have great blood pressure, cholesterol no real health issues. Not diabetes, etc. I do know I can hold my own walking, jogging, stretching, and have greater flexibility than many thin people. There has got to be a better way to judge health, because some people are muscular, have large bone structure, etc.

The only diet commercial I've appreciated lately is Queen Latifah for Jenny Craig - focusing on getting healthier rather than thinner. I wish more "diet" programs used this approach, even if it just a marketing gimmick. (kind of off topic, sorry)