SectionBHeavyBody,NotHeavyHeartPreviewthefollowingquestionsbeforereadingthetext.Words&ExpressionsInpicturesfromcollegeIwasthin.Iworkedfulltime,wenttoschoolfulltime,smoked,andlivedofffastfoodandsoftdrinks.FriendssaythatIdon’tlooklikemyselfinthosepictures.Ilookedill,sad,andunhealthy.Now,ataweightconsideredtobedangerouslyhighbymedicalcharts,Ilivebetterthanever.Ihavegivenupsmoking,andIeatalotofvegetables;Ienjoywalking,swimminganddancingclasses.IexerciseandeatwellbecauseIloveliving,notbecauseIwanttoloseweight.MydoctortellsmeIamhealthy,andthisismuchmoreimportantthanbeingthin.Studiesshowthatoverweightpeoplewhoexercisehavealowerdeathratethan“normal”weightpeoplewhodonot.Negativeattitudestowardfatpeoplebegininchildhood.Onestudyshowedthat,asearlyasnurseryschool,childrenlikedpicturesofdisabledchildrenofsimilaragesbetterthanthoseoffatchildren.Similarly,astudyofcollegestudentssaidtheywouldrathermarryadruguser,athief,orablindpersonthansomeonewhowasfat.Theseattitudescreatediscriminationthataffectsfatpeopleineveryaspectoftheirlives,includingmoneymatters.Infact,overweight,whitewomenusuallyearnlessthanthin,whitewomen—24percentless,accordingtoonestudy.Peopleoftenjustifytheirjudgmentsaboutfatpeoplebysayingthatpeoplechoosetobefat.Choose?Whowouldchooselifeasafatpersoninthisweight-obsessedculture?Therearemanyfalseideasaboutfatpeopleinsociety:thatallfatpeoplehaveeatingdisordersoremotionalormentalissues;thatiftheyreallywantedtoloseweighttheycould.Inreality,however,somepeoplearenaturallyfat.Howapersonisbornissimplyscience,notacommentonsomeone’scharacter.TheCenterforDiseaseControlreportsthat78percentofAmericanwomenaretryinghardtoloseweight,andatanamazingfailurerate—95percentgetbackwhatthey’velostwithintwotofiveyears.Theoften-heardcommentof“youhavesuchaprettyface”doesnotpleasemebecauseofallthat’snotsaid:“Ifyou’djustlosetheweightyou’dbebeautiful.”Beautyisataughtconceptandtheculturalstandardsforbeautychangeconstantly.Laterinlife,Iwashappytolearnthatsomecultureshaveverydifferentstandardsofbeauty.