I need to lose weight because of my health

by Anonymous
(Atlanta, GA)

I need to lose weight because my health is not where it should be. I’m only twenty-one, yet I get short of breath while climbing stairs, and I start sweating when walking only a short distance. Also, I occasionally experience mild chest pains, and I would obviously like for those to go away.

In a culture so obsessed with appearance, I also feel that my weight is a deterrent to my social status. Being a college student, I see firsthand how shallow people can be in picking a significant other. The role of “funny fat guy” only gets you so far, no matter what women will tell you about a sense of humor being the most important attribute for a boyfriend to have. However, I’m more concerned about my health than my body image.

The media scares me into worrying about early-onset diabetes with their constant talk about the “obesity epidemic.” I’d much rather be on the non-obese side in the future, no matter how hard this will be with fast-food restaurants and other junk foods constantly tempting me. I need to lose weight to create a better, healthier version of myself. My self-esteem will be raised, and stairs will no longer be my mortal enemy.