I entered a well known clothing store today, and there was a new sign in the window, not the usual naggy Covid stuff, but something new: an announcement (aimed specifically at women shoppers) that all their clothing would be available in all sizes and that all sizes would be priced the same.

This is about what is usually called “fat shaming.” Fat shaming, in case you’ve been under a rock for the last few years, is about not calling attention to the obese in our midst. Corporate chains are merely repeating what has become something of a trope in health and medical circles: your body, whatever size it is, no matter how large, is okay.

Which on one level is acceptable. No one wants to hurt the feelings of fat people. But showing kindness is one thing. Pretending that fat people are just as healthy as everyone else is ridiculous.

Because they’re not. Being mildly over the weight charts is one thing. Actually, the slightly overweight have a slight edge on longevity.

But note that I said slight on both counts. What is dangerous is a current propensity to claim that fat is healthy. It’s not. And everyone knows this, or should. And if physicians and other health professionals are saying that being obese is a physically neutral issue, they are lying in a dangerous and deceptive way.

It’s a little like cigarette smoking. I’m not one of the cigarette Nazis who feign a coughing fit every time they’re within a quarter mile of a smoker. On one level, I don’t care if someone smokes. But everyone, including the smoker, knows it’s a very bad and very unhealthy habit.

People like to pretend that, say, fifty years ago, the public didn’t know cigarettes were bad for you. Which is complete nonsense. There’s a reason “coffin nails” was a slang term for cigarettes even eighty years ago.

Every rational person understands that inhaling smoke is a bad idea. Even those who smoke, and even those – like me – who are okay with smoking on some level. But in the same way, every rational individual knows that walking around with fifty or a hundred pounds of extra weight is bad for you. Yes, every one knows this.

What’s the takeaway here? I’m glad fat people can have nice clothes. But let’s say it as plainly as we can: calling attention to an individual’s obesity is a good thing. People who are obese need to lose as much weight as they can as fast as they can. And while I don’t pretend losing weight is easy (I’ve struggled with weight all my life), I like to remind myself and others of the reality: if I offered you $10,000 if you lost 10 pounds in the next month, you’d lose it. Guaranteed. Same with quitting cigarettes. But that’s a topic for another day.