So tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we most certainly will be stuffing our faces, but it is how we conduct ourselves as a community the 364 others days for decades on end that is really the issue when it comes to our weight. One HBCU, Lincoln University has attempted to educate its clinically obese students (those with BMI of 30 or greater) by requiring that they enroll in a class called “Fitness for Life” in order to graduate. Sounds like a good idea right? Well, although this rule has been in on the books since 2006, a dozen seniors, who are also fat, failed to take the class and therefore won’t receive their diplomas. I’ve got to agree with Elizabeth Gates, who wrote about this controversial call on “The Daily Beast” that just ain’t right. They didn’t lie, cheat or steal so this is a hard ruling to swallow. Read the full story

As I stated earlier in the week, medical research can be surprising and often perplexing but the recent findings about weight and perception simply make me sad. Sigh. A new report from The Dallas Heart Study says that there are some obese people who consider themselves ‘normal’ and don’t believe there’s any reason to lose weight. Actually 1 in 10 people in the study felt this way and actually considered themselves healthy although many suffered from hypertension, diabetes, diabetes and/or smoked. So here’s the part that makes me sigh….50% of those in the study where black. So essentially this study confirms that many of us take the fantasy approach when it comes to our weight. Read the full story

We all know that obesity in our community is an ever-increasing epidemic. Well the Los Angeles City Council decided to take drastic action and have banned the opening of any fast food restaurants in South Los Angeles for the next year. This comes after governments have given sodas the heave-ho in the schools as well as the whole trans fat thing. Anyway, its almost like they’re trying to force the people in the ‘hoods to eat better. Read the full story