I understand that one could argue that governor Christie has brought his weight upon himself by lifestyle choices. That belies the greater question, “Even if someone makes improper health choices, why are so many so comfortable with teasing others about what they weigh or eat?”

The use of the word ‘synthetic’ paves the way for naive users to believe they can gain the experience they would taking ‘real’ cannabis or LSD without suffering the dangerous consequences.

News anchor Jennifer Livingston proved that bullying isn’t something that happens only to kids and that many of them don’t know better than to make fun of people. This is National Bullying Awareness Month and all of us should take the time to consider how our attitudes affect our kids and how we can teach them.

Aiming for perfection is not only a barrier to getting things done; it’s an excuse to avoid attempting them.

I am concerned about the “fat wars” appearing to be more prevalent as this problem continues; there is a “we” versus “them” mentality in the battle against obesity. Commentators define the obese in harsh and snide terms. Certainly, with a percentage of them, there might be an element of truth but…

What’s different with the Citizens Medical Center refusal to hire obese people is that the policy doesn’t indicate costs or side effects; nor does it suggest that obese employees are incapable of performing their tasks. Mostly, it refers to physical form, placing overweight applicants in the same category as those with visible tattoos or facial piercings.

This podcast discusses a medical center in Texas that will not hire anyone with a BMI over 35 and whether or not that is discrimination. I think it is. I put out my reasons here. Your comments are welcome.

This new method of determining who is healthy is revealing some frightening stats. Of the almost fourteen hundred people studied, 26 percent were classified as obese using their BMI. That number almost tripled to 64 percent when measured with a Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan. The study discovered that misclassifications were more common in women then men and also increased with age.

Should those illustrations not be enough to persuade you of the loving omnipotence of an all-powerful benevolent Spirit, I present to you definitive proof: According to a recent study, people who ate chocolate a few times per week (or more) weighed less than those who rarely indulged in the sweet.

This is the podcast from year 7, column 15. It’s 5:49 in length and talks about a recent study about how people who eat chocolate more often tend to be less obese and more healthy than people who eat it less often.

It’s better to reduce the amount of waste we use and to find ways to use less oil. Having said that, this story is very hopeful about a company that has created a machine that can turn trash into oil.

A Secret Santa went to Reading, Pennsylvania, reportedly because it was the poorest city in America, with the goal of handing out $20,000 in cash to random people in thrift stores, laundromats and bus stops who look like they could use a helping hand. Watch this video; it will uplift you – then go commit a random act of kindness.

If one is unhappy on the inside, no high-tech electronic, fancy outfit, or latest doo-dad will fill that void. No amount of “retail therapy” will make you whole if there is a hole within.