[angeladc]

i asked this question awhile back and i seen the same type of question was posted by an editor on bet.com.he just worded it alot better:
Posted Sept. 26, 2008 - We’ve got a situation. On one hand, I applaud Essence’s special “Voluptuous Issue” for celebrating our curvy nature. We’ve got a number of examples of beautifully curvy women who help young girls feel better about themselves because they’re on top of their games. Actress and comedian Mo’Nique, who serves as a Essence guest editor for their “voluptuous” issue, brought her F.A.T. (Fabulous And Thick) philosophy to the issue, which features a plus-size fashion guide with Beverly Johnson’s daughter, Anansa Sims. But as we celebrate our curves, I also wonder if we aren’t sending the wrong message.


There’s such a fine line between “voluptuous” and obese, a conditions which is unhealthy and can lead to health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. And Black women have one of the highest incidences of obesity in America. So, I hope discussions about people like actress-comedian Sherri Shepard don’t get lost in the “curves” celebration. While few would have considered The View co-host to be obese, Shepard admitted that she was motivated to lose weight recently because of a fear of amputation or stroke caused by her diabetes. That’s important because 11 percent of Blacks have diagnosed diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But, more importantly, 25 percent of Black children are obese, and their obesity is increasingly causing them to become diabetic. Call it what you will, obesity isn’t anything to celebrate when it puts you on an unhealthy path that can shorten your life.