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" With the head buried deeply in the sand! Posters here want to rant about fat people. Why not address the obvious issue: despite claims by the insurance industry and its millions of dependents that our health care system is the best (!), Americans aren't healthier than anyone. And this, despite spending almost 16 percent of the GDP on healthcare, an expenditure that is vastly more than any other developed country. This kind of evidence devastates the complacent agitation of uninformed agitators for the status quo. Health care reform, at the very least will be wrenching. But putting it off, year after year, will only make it more difficult. "

" Even though we're allegedly living longer than ever, life expectancy may be peaking. The number one reason for this I believe is the widespread affliction known as obesity. How many obese 90-year-olds do you see? Not many. Not that many obese 80-year-olds in fact. It is the folks who live into their 80's and 90's that make Americans' life expectancy as high as it is. More obese folks means fewer folks living into their 80's and 90's. "

" A doctor in the article is quoted as asking, "What's wrong here?". Frankly, I am surprised Americans, despite ranking only 42nd, are still living longer than ever. As individuals we aren't doing much in the way of healthy lifestyles- we eat too much, we don't eat right, we don't get enough exercise, we don't get enough sleep, etc. Mostly we rely on the doctors to bail us out after mistreating our bodies for 50 years. "

" That is still a good life expectancy. Who wants to be 85 sitting in a nursing home with drool on their clothes anyways? "

" I plan on living a long long time. "

" Why are we listening to these Docs? They are part of the problem not the solution. "

" One third of those over 20 are obese while two thirds are overweight. That is a discouraging statistic. One third and two thirds = three thirds. ( I think) By these lights, is there ANYONE living in the U.S. who isn't too fat? "

" personally my diet is alot worse since I lost my union job, due to not being able to afford the better food any longer. I also believe it's due to to many man made chemicals in our foods, from birth. Last but not least, other countries cure cancer, and the U.S. does not. We are prescriped chemical pills for everything. The U.S. treats illnesses and does not cure illnesses, so therefore long term medication kills. "

" One major factor was left out. STRESS. Americans are trying to 'outrun' inflation and losing badly. Just because our unemployment rate is 'acceptable' that does not mean working at Walmart is going to reduce your stress level when you are trying to feed a family. Obesity is directly related to poverty. People are not intentionally developing diabetes and high blood pressure, it's a result of their poor diets - the only ones they can afford. "