Letter to the Editor 12/12

To the Editor,

One of the things that makes our country so great is that we have the freedom… To the Editor,

One of the things that makes our country so great is that we have the freedom to make all kinds of choices. We can choose our religion, political beliefs and, recently, we’ve even been allowed to change our sex.

The dark side of all this choice is that we can be judged for the choices we make. That is why I take offence to Tracey Hickey’s Dec. 9 article, “Shaming Fat People Misguided.” To suggest that weight and race are similar is an insult to the various minorities who have been mistreated for something that they cannot control, i.e. the color of their skin or the deity they worship. Weight, though, is something that can be controlled through discipline and hard work. An abundance of research makes a simple connection: fewer calories means less weight.

Ms. Hickey’s use of studies that mention the damaging effects of “yo-yo dieting” skates dangerously close to unethical, as the authors of these studies, in my experience, conclude by stating that their results should not be used as a condemnation of dieting in general but instead as an indication that the overweight should always be watching what they eat.

Getting a subtle tattoo, just like eating dessert in moderation, is fine. Covering yourself with tattoos, though, invites people to draw unpleasant conclusions about your character. Obesity does the same. As Roman dramatist Terence said, “Moderation in all things” — advice that I think our society needs to take to heart.

Luke Neal

School of Arts & Science