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84 / Health Issues Caused by Obesity
Make Connections: Fighting Back
Not all obese people are depressed about or unhappy
with their weight. Take, for example, the Clydesdales
and Athenas, international groups committed to ath-
letic opportunities for large competitors. Its motto is:
“You don’t need to be thin to be healthy,” and its mem-
bers (all of whom are technically overweight and
obese) compete in marathons, duathlons, and
triathlons.
“I walked into a popular restaurant the evening
after I ran the Boston Marathon,” shared one
Clydesdale. “Some teen guys were there who made a
few rude remarks about my size. They spoke under
their breath, but I heard every word.
“So I walked up to them and asked them if they had
any idea what I did that day? After a few nervous
chuckles and a couple of bad jokes, they admitted they
didn’t. I told them that I had completed the Boston
Marathon in under four hours. Then I asked them if
they could do that. That shut them up.”
just takes too much effort, so people whose weight makes these situations
challenging or uncomfortable may stay home.
The negative psychological impacts that weight issues can bring don’t
affect everyone equally. Men and the elderly seem to be more accepting of
themselves and less concerned with weight matters, eating, and appearance.