Just as the rate of fatness has become more weighty in North America in recent years, so has the argument that fat people can lead healthy lives — just not slim lives.

No doubt there is solid evidence to prove this. Certainly there have been a number of books written and organizations formed to expressly push this point in order to de-stigmatize the over-weight in society.

But their message sounds a lot like the nay-sayers of global warming: experts over-whelmingly agree that the way we are headed is bad for the planet and we have to do something about it, or else. All the dissenters do is deflect and confuse the message and provide a hook for the recalcitrant to hand their hat.

Man-made inspired global warming is bad for the planet. Period. Yes, the negative affects can be kicked down the road for awhile but eventually, we’re going to pay for our bad behaviour.

It’s hard not to conclude that the same case can be made for the over-weight. Sure, you can profess that some fat people can be as healthy as the healthy slim, but experts over-whelmingly agree that the way the over-weight trajectory is headed is bad for society and we have to do something about it, or else.

This NY Times article, Heavier Americans Push Back on Health Debate does a good job of putting this dilemma into focus.