Big Is Beautiful

DR. WALLACE: I notice that you always encourage overweight teens to lose weight for better health. I'm 19, and I'm obese — so is my mother, so is my grandmother and so is my great-grandmother. We all appear to be healthy and happy, and food brings us great joy.

I love being big and so does my family. I'm 60 pounds overweight, and I wouldn't want to have a normal weight for my body build and height if I had to curb my appetite. I enjoy being fat and pigging out whenever I so choose. And please don't tell me that fat people lack self-esteem. I exude tons of it.

Dr. Wallace, please be kind to overweight teens. We are tired of everyone in the world trying to change us. We don't want to change and that includes my chubby boyfriend. We all believe in the saying, "Big is beautiful!" - Molly, Rome, Ga.

MOLLY: Those overweight teens contact me to find out the fastest, safest way to lose weight because they feel being obese hinders their social life. Counting calories, eating nutritious foods and regular exercise is usually what I recommend. I also remind the overweight teen that obesity, according to the American Cancer Society, is responsible for many ailments, including diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. I encourage overweight teens to lose weight for myriad reasons, but my concern for their health is paramount.

I'm aware that some overweight people enjoy it that way and don't want to change their lifestyle. To you, your mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and yes, your chubby boyfriend, I wish continued happiness and continued good health.

JUAN IS TOO OLD FOR YOU

DR. WALLACE: I'm 13, and the guy I like a lot is 19. He is a wonderful guy. He's very sweet and makes me feel like I am somebody. The problem is that my father has stopped me from seeing him or talking with him on the phone. My father is a very prejudiced person. He hates all people who are not white Protestants.

The guy I like happens to be a Mexican and is Catholic and that, I'm sure, is why my dad doesn't want Juan seeing me anymore. What can I do to convince my father that Juan is a wonderful guy and that when he bleeds, his blood is the same color as mine? - Sharlene, Brownsville, Texas

SHARLENE: Prejudice is a deep-seated trait and extremely difficult for a person to overcome. For some, it is nearly impossible to overcome this form of irrational thinking. But I'm not so sure Juan's religious preference and ethnic background are the main reasons why your father doesn't want you to see him.

At age 19, Juan is much too old to be seeing a 13-year-old girl, even if he is sweet and wonderful. If age difference was the main reason that you no longer will be seeing Juan, then your father was right!

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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