[tortoise]

There are plenty of medical conditions which cause people to gain inordinate (and unhealthy) amounts of weight. Hypothyroidism, Cushing's Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome just to name a few.

Though to be fair, there are no conditions where weight is unmanageable. Some conditions merely require more discipline than others, though with a little effort a person can find a comfortable equilibrium in their diet almost anywhere in the calorie range.

[capt. norm]

Some conditions merely require more discipline than others

Exactly. We all have to exercise (no pun intended) self-discipline.

Those who don't, become alcoholics, drug addicts, criminals, liberals, obese....you name it.

Self discipline is disappearing at about the same rate as the increase in the number of people who are seriously overweight.

Many times I have been behind a fat woman in the checkout line and noticed all the icecream, cookies, cakes, candy, etc. being purchased and her sucking on an open bottle of a non-diet soft drink like her life depended on it. Now there's self discipline for you.

[pollyannaish]

That is flat out not true. To say so makes me believe you have never been, nor known, someone with significant disease.

YOUR post makes me a lot more upset that Capt. Norms because people CHOOSE how they dress and need to do so appropriately for their body.

But people often do NOT choose what disease they have. Ever seen a body ravaged by chemo, or reliant on prednisone? Do you know what it is like to see a four year old child bloated from disease and an attempt to keep her alive: while getting the bare caloric necessities through a damn feeding tube?

Weight is NOT always a matter of self-discipline. Often, yes. Always, no.

You are a jerk.