许多人谈胖色变，其实胖也可以与健康相伴。对于胖人而言，保持心理健康是头等重要的事情。

In pictures from college I was thin. I worked full time, went to school full time, smoked cigarettes and lived off fast food and soft drinks. Friends comment that I don't look like myself in those pictures. I looked ill, sad and unhealthy.

Now, at a weight considered "morbidly obese" by insurance industry charts, I live healthier than ever.（注1） I quit smoking, and I eat mostly vegetarian food. Ienjoy biking, walking, swimming and dancing classes. I exercise and eat well because I love living, not to lose weight. My doctor tells me I am healthy ---all the lab work confirms this: blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels（注2）. Being fit is more important than being thin.（注3） Research shows that overweight or even obese men who exercise have a lower death rate than "normal" weight men who do not exercise.

Fat prejudice begins in childhood.（注4） One study showed that as early as nursery school children preferred images of disfigured or disabled peers（注5） to images of fat kids. A survey of college students said they'd rather marry an embezzler, a cocaine user, a shoplifter（注6） or a blind person than someone who was fat. The prejudice creates discrimination that affects fat people in every part of their lives, including finances. Fat white women usually earn less than thin white women ?nbsp;24 percent less, according to one study.

People often justify their judgements about fat people by saying they choose to be fat. Choose? Who would choose life as a fat person in this weight-obsessed culture（注7）? There are many myths about fat people. That all fat people have eating disorders or unresolved emotional or mental issues.（注8） That if they really wanted to lose weight they could (implying laziness).（注9） This is completely illogical since body weight is determined by many factors such as genetics, metabolism and dieting history.（注10）

Some people are naturally fat. Genetics are simply science, not character flaws.The Center for Disease Control reports that 78 percent of American women are actively trying to lose weight, and at an amazing failure rate ?nbsp;95 percent of dieters regain what they lost within two to five years.（注11） After dieting, the body often gains back the lost weight and more. Determined to survive, the body prepares for the next starvation period（注12）.

The diet industry is extremely profitable, pulling in $33 billion each year. But if diets worked wouldn't we all be thin by now? Recent estimates say 55 percent of Americans are overweight.

The clich?nbsp;compliment of "you have such a pretty face" is not flattering to me because of what's left unsaid,（注13）"If you'd just lose the weight you'd be gorgeous." Beauty is a taught concept（注14） and the cultural standards for beauty change frequently. The time and money we waste trying to meet cultural standards is a shame. The emotional pain and guilt we feel because our appearance is not "in" at the moment is unnecessary.（注15）

Later I learned the difference in cultural beauty standards in a wonderful way.（注16） While I was on vacation in the British Virgin Islands（注17）, a local maninvited me to have a picture with him on the beach. I curiously asked, "Why are you hitting on me?（注18） There are women who look like swimsuit models here." "Bones is for the dogs," he said with a smile. "Meat is for the man."

1. 如果按照保险公司的健康状况统计表的标准，我现在的体重属于病态地超重，但现在我的身体比任何时候都健康。morbidly：病态地； obese：（过于）肥胖的。

2. 血糖、血压和胆固醇含量，所有的检验结果都肯定了我的身体健康这一点 。

3 . 健康要比苗条更重要。

4 . 对肥胖的偏见在孩童时代就开始萌生了。

5 . 外形有缺陷和有残疾的同龄人。

6 . 盗用公款者、吸食可卡因者和商店扒手。

7 . 一个为体重所困扰的文化。

8 . 历来有许多对胖人的荒谬说法，就是认为胖人都有饮食紊乱或情感和精神方面不能解决的问题。myth：（没有事实根据的）观点、理论。

9.只要他们真想瘦下来就能做到（暗示胖人懒惰）。

10. metabolism：新陈代谢；dieting history：饮食习惯。

11. 但失败率高得惊人，95%的节食者在节食后的两到五年时间里又长回了减掉的体重。

12. 由于生存的本能，（人的）机体要为下一个饥饿阶段（指又一轮新的减肥）做准备。

13. 像“你的脸真漂亮”这样滥俗的客套话对我而言并非奉承，因为还有半句没有说完。cliche'compliment：滥俗的奉承话。

14. 被灌输、教育出来的观念。

15. 由于身材不符合现时的潮流而感到痛苦和内疚是不必要的。in：表示“符合规范，入流”。

16. 后来我通过一种奇妙的方式领略到了不同文化的审美标准。

17. 英属维尔京群岛[拉丁美洲]。

18. 为什么偏选中我？