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Thursday, June 7, 2007 12:00 AM

Healthy, my ass

Many blacks love big women, but having a rump the size of Buffie the Body's can put women at risk for disease.

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  • Thursday, June 7, 2007 08:28 AM

    Tired of being a walking set of measurements

    The subject line says it all. I am _so tired_ of the constant critique of body types. You can't win! The numbers of obese women in this country are substantial, and the resultant messages are (1) everyone needs to be on a diet as of yesterday and (2) who wants to be a stick figure, celebrate your curves! I am not overweight, but the omnipresence of these two messages affect everyone. I feel pressure to count calories and to join other women in picking apart our bodies ("I feel fat today! My thighs are too big!" "Your thighs, look at my stomach!"), and on top of it, embarassed that I lack those big curves, not having the luck to have that lovely waist to hip ratio black women are often blessed with. I am not 5'11, so I don't fit into the supermodel-esque crowd, either.

    I am an average- height, normal BMI- having, healthy woman, and I hate that I am unable to walk around without feeling constantly critiqued, even though I know these messages are put out there for everyone indiscriminately. The other writers pointing out that abdominal fat, not 'booty' fat, is the most dangerous sort are absolutely correct. Can we please leave SOME women alone, just for the day, perhaps??

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