[HPforGrownups] FAT

[Meredith Wilson]

No: HPFGUIDX 20318


>Re "taking care of herself" - being overweight is dangerous - for Muggles;
we >can end up with diabetes, heart disease, stroke.  I think wizards 
>have a different constitiution, though - tougher - so it doesn't matter to
>them.

Correction... being out of shape and unhealthy is dangerous, not being
'overweight.'  I was considerably 'overweight' in college according to
charts, but I had great blood pressure, great cholesterol, etc, and was
taking dance classes 5 days a week (plus some sporadically on the side) and
running stairs and lifting weights, etc.  I was 'overweight' but not
unhealthy.  Dudley is unhealthy, but the point is, you can be large and
healthy.  

Also, often weight gain is a side affect of diabetes and is not proven to be
linked to stroke (my dad died of a stroke, so I know a bit about it).  Being
out of shape (and smoking and stress...) is connected.  Heart disease is
increased by being unhealthy, and by fad dieting.  Losing and gaining weight
(or yo-yo dieting) is horrible on your heart.  You're better off to exercise
and be large than to yo-yo, or be thin and not exercise.

I know this is terribly off topic now, but I started this talking about
Dudley.

You were right on track mentioning Dudley's popularity.  Again, not a great
role model to show that the mean kid is the popular kid, but I don't know
what would be perfect.  That's the key to anything.  You can never nitpick
too much because you'll never please everyone.

Meredith