Woman's obesity quest sends the wrong message

The subject of obesity is one that grabs the headlines often. In the last six months alone, for example, consider some of the obesity-related news that has cropped up: Lincoln University in Pennsylvania came under intense scrutiny because of a policy measuring students' body mass indexes (BMI) and requiring those with a BMI over 30 to take a special fitness class in order to graduate. Michelle Obama launched an initiative to eliminate childhood obesity; and that program was criticized on many fronts, with people saying that it overstates the seriousness of the childhood obesity epidemic, and that it could create a culture of shame where children eventually come to hate fat people. Then there is the case of Gabourey Sibide, the plus-sized actress nominated for an Oscar for "Precious," who drew nasty comments from Howard Stern and others, who said she'd never work again because she's so "enormous."

But perhaps all of these stories pale in comparison to the latest obesity headline - this one involving a woman who is actively trying to become more obese than she already is in order to earn the title of World's Fattest Woman. Donna Simpson, a New Jersey mother who already holds the dubious title "World' Fattest Mother" says she wants to pack on about 400 pounds in order to weigh in at 1,000 pounds. She has two children; and operates a Web site where people (mostly men, she says) pay per view in order to watch her eat. Therefore, her bizarre aspiration is apparently motivated by both a desire for fame and attention as well as financial reasons.

Simpson's story, and the widespread attention it has been generating, illustrates the tenuous line the media must toe in covering obesity. On the one hand, ever person, no matter his or her size, deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion, and to be given the same opportunities as everyone else. Obesity in American culture is often associated with a person being lazy, wasteful, overindulgent, lacking self control, etc., and all of those are unfair associations. On the other hand, obesity is a serious and dangerous health condition that shouldn't be glamorized or fetishized to the point that people actually want to become obese. Simpson might cherish her title as World's Fattest Mother, but in doing so, she is likely setting a dangerous precendent for her kids that being morbidly obese is OK for one's health.

Obesity puts a person at risk for a multitude of various health problems, and almost certainly cuts a person's life expectancy. It's one thing to be comfortable and secure in not succumbing to the pressures of being rail-thin that the media projects; it's quite another to actually try to make oneself obese.

Photo credit: Aspen04