A few years ago research in the United States showed that both men and women tend to act as though overweight women are invisible. Do some research yourself. Next time you are at the mall, pay attention to the people you notice and the people you ignore or treat as invisible.

Valerie Bertonelli and Oprah have spoken openly about their weight. In part because of their celebrity status, they are under a lot of pressure to be thin. Another factor is they are women.

I wonder why Drew Carey was selected to take Bob Barker's spot on The Price Is Right. Bob Barker was very thin. Drew Carey is not. From the beginning I thought that he would have been overlooked had he been a woman.

In at least some African countries men are delighted to have their wives gain weight. A "fat wife" means that the husband is wealthy and able to provide food. In their minds a thin woman is a starving woman.

Double standards aside, weight can be a health issue. Both coaches on The Biggest Loser keep emphasizing that the contestants are losing weight for their health. Overweight people tend to be less active. By not using their muscles, they are gradulaly losing the ability to use those muscles. Inactivity can also lead to heart-related diseases.

Being overweight can contribute to adult-onset diabetes. Once diagnosed, some people are able to control the disease with weight loss and diet.

Using food to meet emotional needs is a health issue. Anorexia and Bulemia are related to control issues. Many people with these diagnoses think the only thing in their lives they can control is food.

Some overweight people overeat when they feel stressed. Using food to avoid emotions creates health problems.

One of the most difficult aspects of understanding overweight is the emotional issues. People who have never had a weight problem tend to think others just need to discipline themselves. However, losing weight and keeping it off are directly related to resolving the reasons for overeating.

We do not need to buy into the current media message of extreme thinness. We do not seem to remember that Marilyn Monroe wore a size 14. Let's aim for a realistic and sustainable weight that is in proportion to our height. We can overcome the media bias and live a healthy life.