Is it just me or does it seem like to you, too, that every where we look these days there are news stories, advertisements, reports, studies and medical alerts all bearing one message: “You’re too fat! You’re too fat! You’re TOO FAT!” Is it any wonder, then, that anorexia and eating disorders are increasing among the middle-aged?

Fat. Over-weight. Excess BMI. Obesity. We’ve even got a war on it, complete with Congressional funding. How sick is that?

Not long ago I wrote about Shaquille O’Neill’s show in which he attempted to create a ‘boot camp’ for overweight kids. It is, as I explained, a dangerous approach to take with children who are already suffering from low self-esteem. But adults are no less susceptible to these media messages, to this condemnation from outside which so closely mimics our inner-tapes: “You’re too fat! You’re too fat. You’re TOO FAT!”

Surrounded by a never-ending barrage of negativity about our current size, coupled with commercials that equate ordering a hamburger with finally — finally — having things “your way” — is it any wonder so many of us turn to food as the one highlight of our day? The one thing that demands nothing of us, doesn’t discriminate against us, does not compel us to first measure up to some outer standard before delivering that oh-so-sweet gratification?

Now, in addition to being told we need to be careful with whom we make friends, lest we “catch” obesity from them — we’re also told that being thin doesn’t really mean you’re thin. In fact, you may look thin but you’re fat on the inside.

Know why I think we’re fat?

Because there’s an endless barrage of messages telling us that we are. It’s known as failure syndrome in the educational arena: we believe up front that we won’t succeed, so we sabotage ourselves rather than actually try our hardest and still fail.

This week I resolve to stop paying attention to outside messages about my weight, and to focus instead on simply doing what I know is good for me: moving my body for at least a half-hour a day; filling up on fruits, veggies and water; and putting my health ahead of whatever the scale says.