I am large and proud.

A rather large rotund individual fell backwards onto an airport luggage carousel. He was unable to get up. He was stuck on it for some time. It was comical to watch. The struggle and the shame of being incapable of even sitting upright let along haul himself off, put a smile on people's faces. It was alarming though. This reiterates the point I have made regarding fat versus thin. There is one thing that a thin, lean, standard sized person has, that a fat person doesn't. Agility.

We have a choice. Either sell the idea of being body positive, accept and be proud of who we are. Or, sell the idea that there are substantial advantages to being less fat, less hampered by those rolls and rolls of unhelpful fat. Those that ask us to be more accepting of other people's bodies are without a doubt doing so with good intentions. They suggest we stop pillorying and shaming people for excess weight and embrace different body shapes instead. The practice of embracing and accepting who we are, has a place. It works well in other areas, particularly areas that are outside of our control. We need not hide away if we have a deformity or oddity.

However, something feels wrong when this 'body positive' notion is extended towards obesity. It goes against longstanding wisdom that enshrines the belief that obesity has major downsides. We were told at school that hospital wards were mainly occupied by thin people, meaning that the fat ones died before they got anywhere near a hospital. It has become apparent that many of those that have lost weight have also become free of diabetes. Even a small reduction in excess weight can lessen a whole range of related health complications. Weight damages your back, your knees get ruined. The list is endless.

Under no circumstances do we have a wish to 'fat shame'. In fact, any such humiliation tends to have the reverse effect. People just shy away from it. They find a corner to sit down and indulge in even more food.

Is being proud of our bodies equivalent to being proud of our achievements? Maybe it is the poor use of the word proud. Maybe people are simply suggesting that they are comfortable in their own skin irrespective of how far it has been stretched to encase a huge amount of fatty deposits. Some I am sure are proud of increasing the amount they smoke each day. Some are proud that their fitness counters record record low number of steps each day. Many do indeed boast about the amount of drink they can consume and still stumble home. Proud of our differences. Though being overweight no longer counts as being different as obesity is very common now. It is almost a fashion statement.

I believe that your body is yours and yours alone to do what you want with it. It is not really anyone else's business how large you get. This principle remains sacrosanct. Some bemoan the issues in hospitals where ever larger operating tables are having to be purchased to accommodate the heavier patients. This is expensive. However, the numbers in hospital through sporting incidents is not going down. Rugby alone sends many fit and healthy people into recovery wards. Those that exercise to excess are also expensive to keep on track.

We prefer positive talk. Thus, it is fine, no problem, be happy with your weight is said with understanding and compassion. To denounce people instead and usher people down the path towards agility take nerve and risks upsetting people. In short there is little positive about being overweight.

Some cultures revere a well-fed partner. I am sure there is an ancient link to times where food supply was feast or famine and being large during a point in the cycle was advantageous. Is a shorter bigger life better than a lifetime always on a diet?

We have learnt to embrace our disposition and need no shaming. Nevertheless, if you are selling the idea that obesity is something to be proud of then maybe I have misunderstood the meaning of the word. What I am really asking is for people to tell the whole story.

Can we admit that whilst we are personally comfortable with our weight, we accept there are caveats; We don't have that spring in our step. Getting about takes a lot of effort. We are not a free as we could be. We have weight-imposed limits. Lower endurance, shorter range. Nimbleness is replaced by real sores - I don't mean being an eyesore.

I can run ap and down the stairs. I can dance with aplomb. Many of the larger 'dancers' waddle the turns rather than spin with joy. They also sit more waiting for a dance as less people want to dance with them. There is a magnificence in being trim. You can live more, love more and like doing more.

Proud of our bodies irrespective of what others may think. (We will keep the downsides quiet of course. )

Proud