In a nation plagued by overweight-related health problems, the last thing we should do is have an overweight person as Surgeon General!

This reminds me of the outrageousness of Michael J. Fox advocating for research towards a cure for Parkinson's disease! When he himself perpetrates that very disease by having it! What a hypocrite!

I think Dr. Benjamin should be surgeon general because she is such an accomplished and energetic advocate of public health. (Imagine - an administration that appoints people because they're QUALIFIED - what a concept!)

But the fact that she is "above average weight" is NOT a good thing. IMHO it doesn't disqualify her, but it's not a good role model either. Same as having smoking the occasional cigarette doesn't disqualify the president, but neither does it help his credibility.

Weight control is basic physics: Consume fewer calories than you use and you'll lose weight. Consume more calories than you use and you'll gain weight.

It's that simple.

What makes it difficult is that nobody likes being hungry, and that it takes a considerable amount of time to lose significant pounds. Meanwhile we are surrounded by delicious, inexpensive and calorie-laden foods.

Yes, I know that the truth of a statement is completely independent of who says it. "Being overweight is bad for your health" is true regardless of the BMI of who says it.

But it's a lot easier to take advice from someone who walks the talk.

One thing I remember growing up was the constant lectures from older folks about the horrible evils of drugs like pot. These were the same older folks who needed strong coffee to get going in the morning, a couple of beers or manhattans to slow down in the evening, and a couple of dozen cigarettes a day to stay focused. Plus additional use of ethanol and tobacco in social settings.

"Do as I say, not as I do" didn't cut it.

Only in America, would Benjamin be characterized as "above-average weight." She is OBESE...perfect for the fattest nation in the world, where a Type II diabetes crisis faces our children. Of course, Salon, the political correctness whore that it is thinks this is GREAT!!!! Yay for high blood pressure! Yay, for heart disease! Yay, for Type II! Go African American, obese country doctor! Bring on the bacon people, the good times are here!

(Never mind that none of these criticisms have mentioned any actual health concerns Benjamin might or might not have, instead presuming "obesity" as a catch-all for bad health.)

Obesity is unhealthy. Recognizing this is not synonymous with passing judgement on the moral character of obese people.

She's not in her job to advocate good health, especially for high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and kidney problems, all of which plague African Americans more than white people and all of which are correlated with obesity. She's in her job to advocate Obama's health program for poor people. Her job IS to be black, rural, southern and out of shape.

How well have Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber fared on these pages? Somehow I doubt that's the kind of disdain for ordinary people that Kissling has in mind in touting Benjamin's appointment, but who knows--if so, I'm all for it.

Would it be okay if the Surgeon General was a smoker? (like the President)

Your comparison is poorly constructed. Since obesity is a medical condition people choose to experience, a better comparison would be obesity to alcoholism. They are both compulsive disorders that are widespread and "hard to beat," but nevertheless 100% within the control of those "suffering" from their effects.

Smoking and its associated ills also form another good comparison, if you need another that is not as silly as Parkinson's.

High blood pressure, asthma, heart disease and TYPE II diabetes...health is color blind.

As Surgeon General, she could set a great example by losing weight.

The premise of this article or the asshats who feel the need to comment about a woman's personal appearance, despite her accomplishments?

God, now I need to shower after wading through some of these letters...

This is an extraordinarily gifted and altruistic woman. If she chooses to assist the country with problems she shares, I personally call that inspiring.

I'd LOVE to see you try to lecture her on what she already knows -- and is struggling with in her own health.

She might even patch you up for free after she finished with you.

Good grief, what a bunch of nitpicking prigs. I honestly hadn't thought of her weight as a factor, but it will be useful to see someone down in the trenches with much of the U.S., rather than condescending from a tower of rice cakes.

And Obama smokes. Nobody is perfect.

It is kind of refreshing to see some real, relatable human beings in the government these days, instead of the character deficient puppets of the Bush admin.

I honestly don't think you could do much worse than the past 8 years of Bush, so the further we deviate from his administration, the better.

So, despite her being highly qualified and having set Mother Teresa-sized examples for good & caring medical practices ( I mean, the woman makes HOUSE CALLS!), people think Dr. Benjamin is just - too fat?

Look, I've effing had it! Why not just put all of us fat Americans in concentration camps and render us down for substitute petroleum products. I know there are bunches of you fat-hating bigots out there saying 'Yes! Sounds fine to me', and you need to own up to just being a hater of fat people, for no other reason than fat people look unattractive to you.

Yes, yes, you'll argue that fat people's health is why you are picking on your on your fellow citizens. But face it, what you are really unhinged by is your view that the fat are unattractive, and how DARE unattractive people live, work, achieve honors and live decent lives. All the arguments about fat people's healthy is just a smoke screen for fat-based eugenics.