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…

“Then, I discovered the new Placebo Sham Diet with miracle additive Cleanyouout! Wow! I take one pill every hour with a cup of castor oil, six raw eggs, and their patented ingredient, “laxital,” and — Voila! — the weight just drops off you. Of course, it helps to be near the restroom when it takes effect, but 18 hours a day in the bathroom is a small price to pay for a size five body.

It’s sad that the pressure to be “perfect” is so pronounced that otherwise healthy women feel such self-deficiency that they choose to live with a feeding tube shoved up their nostrils and a sack of protein-rich formula attached to their person. They are hunting for happiness that will not be found.

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 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.

We make excuses because we fear the alternative, or being labeled “failure,” “weak,” or “wrong.” To avoid judgment, we devise all manner of rationale that allows us to cling tight to the status quo. We yet again fought off the beast of change, but for how long — and at what cost?

Attaining excellence lets us evolve to new levels. Chasing perfection however, leads us to a frustrated place of stagnation. Excellence is much more forgiving, and allows us to learn from those areas in which we currently lack. It inspires us to reach further.

God doesn’t like dieters. I mean no disrespect to the Almighty, but why does He (or She) make it so easy to pack on a few pounds, yet seemingly impossible to lose them? So, if I wielded unlimited clout, celery and spinach would be comfort foods.

Therefore, based entirely on math, if one only consumes 500 calories a day – with or without supplements — she’s got no choice but to get thinner. The question is, “At what price?” After all, if you lose your weight and damage your health, was it worth it? Personally, I’d rather be pudgy and relatively healthy than “at my correct weight” while on the verge of keeling over.

In flashes of sanity, I realize — and I know you do too — that the most essential moments are slower-paced, and with those we most cherish. Yet, like the remainder of our lives, they too are whooshing by too quickly and without pause.

It therefore stands to reason that that which we monitor expands our awareness, affording concern or confidence. So logically, if we want to change something about us, we must establish a baseline and “keep score.”

As I watched the drama, it dawned on me that this process does not end when we move away from our parents. It is a sequence that presents itself continually: Frustration. Lesson. Acceptance. Progress. Repeat cycle as necessary until learned.