Proud to be Fat

#Litchat hosted an author on Twitter who'd written a book on accepting herself for being fat.

And I had a problem with that.

Annoyed with the conversation—the politically correct yet ignorant people stroking the author's ego with praise, I joined in the dialog.

I tweeted, “As a society, we need to stop making excuses for poor diet and giving into every whim. Self-discipline is key, not self-acceptance.”

The author tweeted back, “I can't help being fat.”

The following 5 tweets were from the politically correct folks slamming me for being rude to the author.

My next tweet to the author: “Are you one of the less than 2% with a thyroid problem or other medical condition to account for being overweight?”

The author didn't respond, but the PC tweeters did: “Why so intolerant and provoking to the guest host, @jcafesin?” This was retweeted at least 5 times.

While it's politically correct to have 'tolerance,' for fat people, it serves only the PC tweeters, helps them look kindly at themselves in the mirror, assure themselves that they are a good person. But are they? Promoting acceptance of bad/destructive behavior led to Nazi Germany, among other global and local atrocities.

We all know the facts on obesity. If you don't, here's just a few from the CDC: 

● Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death.

● The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was $147 billion in 2008 U.S. dollars; the medical costs for people who are obese were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight.

● Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years.

● 70% of obese youth have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

● Obese adolescents are more likely to have prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels indicate a high risk for development of diabetes.

● Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems.

● Obese children are likely to be obese as adults.

● Increased risk for many types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, gall bladder, thyroid, ovary, cervix, and prostate, as well as multiple myeloma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

While the PC tweeters strive to appear tolerant, they are, in fact, promoting bad behavior by accepting the authors premise that being fat is just dandy. Accepting obesity inadvertently teaches our children that there's nothing wrong with being fat. But this is a lie. Promoting self-acceptance of obesity, instead of teaching self-discipline, allows our kids to continue making poor eating choice, thus damning them to a host of health problems throughout their lives.

The PC tweeters praising the author's book, her position, then defending it against me was beyond ignorant, it was selfish. Another book on a positive self-image for being overweight we clearly do not need. Google returned 14,500,000 results for 'Books on Proud to be Fat.' Proud to be Fat is a powerful, though misguided movement, spawned by either overweight or politically correct people looking to feel good about themselves whatever they do, or are.

The Litchat guest author of the Proud to be Fat book copped an attitude that I was evil with my first comment. Conversely, had I had the support of other tweeters, my remarks could have been construed as refreshing, enlightening, rather freeing. Contrary to her tweet, it IS her fault she is fat, assuming she is disease free. My comments, and subsequent healthy suggestions empowered her with the knowledge she could in fact change, get fit.

Social media is filled with PC tweeters, Facebook updaters, bloggers...etc., that tow the politically correct line, generally serving themselves and no one else. The internet is an incredibly powerful communication tool. For the first time in history it's providing us a method to individually reach the masses, in which we can effectively help each other be better, smarter, healthier, reach our creative and compassionate potential. But we have to be willing to go out on a limb, stand alone among the hordes of self-serving ignorant and promote the truth.