Granted, there are folks who are overweight due to excessive eating habits; there are also a significant number who are overweight due to medical conditions, or even genetics. Can you tell which are which merely by looking at them? How about just a little sympathy and understanding for those who have no control over their appearance.
Originally Posted by stimulatethemind
I sincerely appreciate this compassionate attitude.
However...
Conservation of energy is a physical law that applies even in the presence of medical conditions. For a person to gain weight, calories consumed must exceed calories burned. There's no way around it. Bad genetics cannot turn air into fat; fat has to come from excessive food intake.
I say this not to be mean, but to make the point that suggesting some overweight people don't have control over their situation may do them a disservice. If a person that overeats believes they can't actually control their weight, they're doomed.