Today there was an article in my paper about Fat-acceptance groups saying "We're livng in the middle of a witch hunt and fat people are the witches". "Some people act like obesity is the next worst thing after terrorism." Fat -acceptance groups were dismayed when federal officials announced last month that Medicare was abandoning its position that obestiy isn't a disease. What are your views?

I think people need to maintain a healthy weight. Our country is very weight conscious at the moment, so I think that's what's upsetting that Fat-acceptance group. I don't think accepting obesity is a good idea, but I also think people shouldn't be discriminated against for excess weight. Also, there is a difference between being overweight and obese! That group really didn't make a distinction.

I know some obese people who have had no additional health problems and I know some who had major health problems (advanced diabetes, heart failure.) It's naive to say that being obese won't cause these terrible diseases. I read the article on cnn.com and the fat awareness group really didn't think it was a problem.

As for being super-skinny, our country is too obsessed with it. Our actresses look like lollipops (stick with a head.) Often women who are a healthy weight feel bad about themselves because they aren't a size 2, or like most Hollywood actresses, a zero. Americans need to lose the obsession with weight and just work on being healthy.

It might just be me, but I don't see a whole lot of obese people over 60yrs... Are they getting the health message, or don't they leave the house???

Perhaps the majority of obese people sucumb to some debilitating disease before 60? Everybody I know who is my age (51) or older who is obese has high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, diabetes, etc. or one or more of the above. Many are taking multiple medications to treat the symptoms of their problems, and each medication has a range of unpleasant (and sometimes still unknown) side-effects. Many have had hips and knees replaced by their mid-50's, due to the stress of carrying the extra weight. They motivate me to exercise so I don't end up like them! Sorry, being a cripple or dead by 60 does not sound like much of a quality life to me, but that is their choice! Although the additional strain on the public purse due to the increased cost of medical care for these people does affect all of us...

That is my belief also. I really wished I had gotten the message before 56yrs of age. I have been lucky that I don't have med problems and can persue a fitness improvement program, been at it 4mos and feel like 40 again..

I figured that most of the people over 60 that were extremely obese are either in the hospital or have already died of massive heart attacks. I keep trying to get my message across to people a little younger then me (in their 40's) that it is as simple as eating a good balanced diet and exercising. My husband is living proof. He use to weigh 210, now he is down to 150, goes to the gym (so do I) 3 days a week, and bicycles several times a week. Most of his health problems have disappeared (acid reflux, aches and pains). I'm glad I joined him when he wanted to get in shape, I feel a whole lot better for it even though I was never overweight. It makes me feel good about myself too.

If a fat dude is fat and not trying to change his life, i.e. he is stuffing his face at mcdonalds, he is a fregging slob and is considered the "non-cool" dude. But if there is a fat guy, and he is trying to loose it, I respect that, becuase I was once a little chunky. Like my friend, he is 15 and weights over 200 lbs, but he is just as healthy as me, and he goes to gold's gym every day.