Can you imagine an anorexic, posting a pic of her skeletal frame and stating, I am beautiful just the way I am? More likely than not, someone would comment and tell him/her that they need help, but we would thumb up a similar post from an obese person. The reason is that societally, we have campaigned against eating disorders of anorexia and bulemia, stating that they are not OK and encouraged them to seek help. It wasn't just doctors making that message. It required a more concerted effort.

I have a brother who just lost his wife to cancer. Cancer technically was the cause of her death, but her health was seriously compromised by her morbid obesity and I am certain it contributed significantly to the health issues she had including the cancer. My brother is just as obese, but because of societal norms sees no need to address it even though it very likely will lead him to an early grave. There needs to be a more concerted effort on the part of society to stigmatize obesity just as much as anorexia and bulemia are stigmatized. Not through shaming, but through campaigning to get it recognized as a big deal that needs to be addressed. Until we stop glorifying obesity (beautiful just the way I am), it's going to continue to be an issue.