Weight and height measurements are routinely done at health clinics; and you are often assigned a certain label (“underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese”) based on these measurements.  Your clinician may even encourage you to lose weight, to see a dietitian, or to consider drugs or surgery based on these numbers, without even asking about your eating and exercise habits or considering your level of fitness.  The clinician, of course, has good intentions.  After all, clinicians are taught in their medical training about all the perils of the “obesity epidemic.”  And, they are reminded again and again that obesity is a “disease” that can (and should) be aggressively treated with drugs.  While weight measurements may actually reflect bad eating habits, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor health and fitness, they don’t always.  In fact, there are many large, “overweight” (but fit) men and women who eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and enjoy excellent health (as indicated by their optimal blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar levels).  And, there are many “healthy weight” men and women who don’t.  If you have been a victim of this type of weight prejudice by the medical community, it’s understandable that your body image and self-esteem would suffer.  After all, you are being told by one of the most powerful and respected members of society that you are “diseased.”  The guilt, shame, and self-loathing associated with such a label does nothing to support healthy eating, physical activity, and good health; and, in many cases, it does just the opposite.