THE STATE OF THE F-WORD – THREE LETTERS THAT STILL SHOCK By Lynne Murray The word "Fat" is close enough to an insult that it catches the attention in a title. But what it conveys beyond that is a little more complicated. When the word Fat pops up, should we laugh, be afraid, angry or guilty? Through the magic of media firestorm, fatness is now looked on as a killer disease, a moral failing and a safe target for ridicule by all and sundry. Is it infectious? Can you catch it by reading this essay? Fat is like a killer clown that may honk a horn at you. It may paint tears on its face as if asking for pity and then bonk you with a rubber chicken when you come near. Worse yet, Fat may suddenly leap out of your closet and strangle you in your bed at night. No wonder we keep a nervous eye on the F-word, because there's no telling what it will do next. -snip-

The word 'Fat' is not the problem. If you're fat, you're fat....and you know it. Derogatory or not, it’s the truth. The mere fact that one could be upset over the classification shows that it is a problem. Obesity kills people prematurely only 2nd to smoking in the U.S. It is just fine to tell someone who you see smoking, why are you killing yourself?

-- When will it become socially acceptable to say the same to an obese person shoveling burgers down?

The facts are there, it is not a media storm. In addition...if you read the media, it is becoming more socially acceptable to be obese. Why is this so?

No longer should acceptance overshadow rationalization and laziness. The body needs a healthy mix of things and it's time people start owning up to the problem.

All comments are welcome.

I'm fat and I have to get in a diet

-Gabriel