Dear FRONTLINE,

As an elementary physical education teacher, I really appreciated your program on FAT. For many years I have tried to teach children that they must accept themselves as they are and that fitness can come in all shapes and sizes. Your show was very thorough and realisically explored factors involved in fitness and health: genetics, diet, and exerise.

Ed Jazab
northampton, ma

Dear FRONTLINE,

A couple of weeks ago in Canada, I saw another version of this film, and the differences were quite revealing! The title was "A Matter of Fat." The ending was a joyous celebration of large beauty in art. This "American" version, predictably, ended with the common held truth "moderate diet and exercise will make dramatic differences in people's live." The problem with this "truth" is that it does nothing to shake-up the deadly environment many of have faced: social exclusion, job prejudice, and hostile criticism from friends and family. Given the headlines and the picture choices on your web site, I guess PBS's frontline producers just couldn't escape the norms of American culture and understand the seriousness of the problem--no even comprehend the solution: Hope! The hope of acceptance, justice, and inclusion are the cures for many ills. Sorry you missed the point. The producers of the original documentary did not. God Bless Them!

Carey Tisdal
st. louis, mo

Dear FRONTLINE,

I am the mother of 2 daughters. My oldest is only 6. About 1 1/2 years ago she began to worry about her weight and shape. Diets, weight, etc. have never been an issue in this household. I find it very disturbing that young children are aware and concerned with this.

gulf breeze, fl

Dear FRONTLINE,

I am a 44 year old female who is about 20 pounds overweight and have been fighting the battle of the bulge since the age of 40. Recently I enrolled in a class that teaches the students to eat just until they feel full, which is what one of your experts was doing through a surgical procedure. This program teaches us to listen to our bodies and lets us know that it is OK to "feel hunger" which we have totally gotten away from as Americans! When one feels hunger go ahead and eat whatever you want to but only until you are satisfied, not full, and it helps to EAT SLOWLY!!

rockford, mi

Dear FRONTLINE,

If there is a genetic component to obesity then why is it so much more prevalent here than in other first world countries? If genetics played a role in predisposing some of us to obesity the incidence would be roughly the same in other countries with similar socio-economic levels. It is also highly unlikely that the increased consumption of high-fat, fast- foods, and the increased incidence of obesity is purely coincidental.

Norman Venetsky
new york, ny

Dear FRONTLINE,

As a thin person viewing the Frontline episode, I couldn't help looking at those voluptuous female bodies and thinking: what are we afraid of? Do we ostrasize fat women because we are frightened of their femaleness?

Jennifer Vanasco
chicago, il

Dear FRONTLINE,

I just wanted to send a note of thanks for taking an honest look at the issue of "Fat". I am a 25-year-old, 5'6'', 320lb female. I am beautiful and energetic and genuinely happy on the surface while inwardly torment rages. I have been overweight as long as my memory serves, and for that long I have worried every day about how to measure up to the media's version of beautiful and when I could not, I again listened to the media say that food would soothe all my pains. Since thatís what my parents did, I was sure it was right. This became a vicious unconscious cycle, which turned into habits, and as we all know, habits are hard to break. I have turned to therapy rather that diets in hopes to better understand the cycle and break it at its beginning. Both your television production and the web site have been inspiring and informative. Thanks for reminding me Iím not the only one fighting this battle.

Suzie Barlett
north kansas city, missouri

Dear FRONTLINE,

I enjoyed your show on obesity. It really gave great insight into the image problems of people, especially women today. it also showed the vast innacuracies in most Americans knowlege of nutrition and the causes of obesity. It was refreshing to see a televison show portray the issue in such a realistic way. In the age of plastic surgery and heroine chic thin, it was nice to see a devalued group explored with dignity.

red wing, minnesota

Dear FRONTLINE,

I was interested in the links you indicated that you would supply for medical expertise -- and was disappointed to find the most accessible link to the new BMI standard which does not consider any of the information in your program or differences based on muscle mass/lean mass or the body differences so impressively described in the Frontline piece.

bethel, ct

Dear FRONTLINE,

Your bottom line I know to be true! I am 49 years of age, morbidly obese, with the need of two knee replacements. Since September of 1997 I have lost 40 pounds. I joined they YMCA aquatics program. I exercise in the pool three days a week, for at least an hour. I cannot exercise on land due to my knee problems. My eating habits have not drastically changed, I now drink seltzer instead of soda, and black coffee and tea. If I watch my depression I can watch what I eat. I eat everything in moderation. I do not diet. My weight loss is gradual but it is a loss. The prejudice I feel against an overweight female is overwhelming. I do not have a close friend. I think I have always fought depression more than overweight. It is like the chicken and the egg?

wynantskill, new york

Dear FRONTLINE,

Most people I know say that I am fat, but not obese. This is their thoughts even though I can teach a full day and have enough energy left when I come home to play with my toddler, make dinner, clean the apartment, and make sure life goes smoothly until bedtime at 12. This process starts every morning at 7:30. If I am so over-weight, how do I have so much energy to keep going everyday?

Stacie Meadows
huntington, wv

Dear FRONTLINE,

Everything is based on environment plus hereditary genes, from being overweight, finishing school, to being a drug addict. The question is how to fix the problem if you are more affected. I have been a yo-yo dieter since I can remember, I gained 120 lbs during pregnancy after losing 70 before that. I feel like I go through the three year fat vs skinny times. I can maintain the weight loss or gain for around three years and then I make an effort to change it. Wish me luck as I have to lose 80 lbs to feel good.

Michele Silverman
new york, ny

Dear FRONTLINE,

I am a psychotherapist who is overweight I believe I understand my physical and emotional needs for food. I agree with the thinking that there are probably many reasons to advocate for acceptance of our human diversity which in many ways must be tied in to our ability to survive as a species

Regina Jennings RCSW
nyc, ny

Dear FRONTLINE,

I have been watching FRONTLINE for years and really enjoyed tonight's topic on "FAT". I found it very disturbing that those associated with fashion industry are so very quick to blame the individuals suffering from eating disorders. They seemed aloof and uncaring about persons trapped by a perception of beauty in which they certainly have had a hand in creating. Mabye when Vidal Sasson and others in the media decide that beauty comes in many forms, young men and women will stop dying from these horrible disorders. Mabye we as society should start deciding for ourselves and stop giving power to those who obviously do not care about the consequences. Again I really enjoyed tonight's FRONTLINE. Thank you.

Will Turner
lansing, mi

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thank you for not only presenting fat folks with the dignity and respect we deserve, but shedding light on what we have known all our lives - that we are as God or Nature created us, that we are not freaks or losers, but are wonderful, beautiful people doing the best we can with what we got. How liberating!

Fran D'Agostino
west haven, ct