I wanted to comment on the body image thread.
Balance - simple answer to a complex question. It takes balance, something which I think Warren articulated very well. It's unrealistic to think every guy will look like a shirtless star of 'The Bachelor' nor should they. But, OTOH, I think it can be a sign of poor self esteem, possibly even depression, when people, male or female, "let themselves go". Health suffers. And, our country does face an obesity crisis, caused by lifestyle choices, the SAD lack of nutrition with abundant calories, lack if physical activity.
I know I feel better, look better, and can do a lot more after having lost weight, changing my diet, and adding a significant exercise regimen to my life. And I never want to go back.
= new reply since forum marked as read
I'm overweight and I'm not too down on myself or depressed now days. I just love food. I also just took a physical and had some blood work done recently and I'm in very good health despite the extra weight. No meds except for the stuff for my bipolar disorder- that's not related to my weight 
I suppose it would be a different story if my weight were adversely affecting my health and I refused to make any changes. Then I might be looking at a psychological issue. But, you know, I've run across rail thin people who swear they eat like horses and can't put on any weight. I know that's not true, at least for someone who's older than 20. I think different people just have different body types and different tolerances for food. When I weighed 180 pounds I was underweight- I had low blood pressure. But I know men my height who look kinda fat at 180 pounds.
It's an issue that should be taken on an individual basis. Just because someone is overweight doesn't mean they are unhealthy physically or mentally, or unattractive for that matter.
Tobin, except (perhaps) for one point, I think I agree with you.
First, the slight disagreement: At the age of 57, I joined a local health club and hired a personal trainer to work with me on a bodybuilding program. I guess some people would disagree with what I'm about to say; but I learned that individuals have different metabolic rates, which means that people's bodies don't burn calories at the same rate. Metabolic rate is something that none of us are able to control. A minimal calorie surplus in each 24-hour period is necessary for muscular development. This is one of the reasons why some guys are scrawny. By wearing an armband that supposedly measured the body's burning of calories, I discovered that my metabolic rate was high; and I changed my diet some so I'd end up with a calorie surplus.
Now, as far as the issue of being overweight is concerned, my position is that what people do or don't do with their bodies is none of my business or anyone else's. As far as being overweight posing a threat to one's health is concerned, I agree with you. That depends on the individual and the judgment of the individual's doctor. Ridiculing people for being fat is despicable. Physique has nothing to do with character. Decades ago I was thumbing through a book on World War II. I came across a picture of young men who had assembled in military array. Interestingly enough, all of them were shirtless. Each one of these young men were perfect physical specimens. The only problem was they weren't actually soldiers. They were officers in the Nazi SS, those who were entrusted with the responsibility of exterminating the Jews and other "undesirable" groups. Nobility of character is not skin deep.
I do agree with Denninmi about the benefits of exercise. I love being able to clench muscles that were so undeveloped for decades that I wasn't able to clench them at all. It's been a new sensation for me. I like the feel of physical strength in my body that I had never experienced before. I wish some kind soul had introduced me to bodybuilding when I was a teenager. It would have provided self-confidence at a time when I had none.
But that's just my personal preference. Like I said, what other people do or don't do with their bodies is their own business and nobody else's.
Just to go down a rabbit hole briefly: Yes, I've finally become physically active; and I would be considered a gym rat. But no thanks to sports! We live in a society in which boys who have no interest in sports are likely to be bullied, thanks to the sports culture. Our society pampers school athletes. There often is no accountability for abusing other people away from the game. For example, are the majority of high-school football coaches morally opposed to any of their players bullying other students at their schools? I know some are; but I strongly suspect and, in fact, am convinced that the majority are definitely not opposed to such bullying at all. Some coaches are bullies themselves. Nonathletic boys are often viewed as being effeminate and not deserving respect as human beings. You call that bigotry. There have been many instances in which individual school athletes have committed crimes, but have not been held accountable. No, I'm not saying the majority of school athletes commit crimes; what I'm saying is that the relative few who do commit crimes usually get away with it. If a teenage girl or a coed is raped or gang-raped by members of the local high-school or university's football team, most of the time she can forget about receiving any kind of justice, as she will be psychologically raped by many of the fans who deeply resent her for even daring to make any accusation. (Just take a look at Steubenville! Not to mention other communities such as Glen Ridge, the University of Notre Dame, etc.) And please don't get me started on the "old P.E" with its history of bullying while at the same time not providing any fitness programs for the nonathletic boys. Talk about institutionalized hypocrisy!
To get back to what I was saying: I will admit that one of the reasons I've taken up bodybuilding late in life is because I have always been plagued with low body self-image, even though I never had any interest in sports when I was a kid. In fact, for decades I had this problem to a great degree, but didn't know what to do about it. If a young guy who is scrawny or fat has come to terms with his physique and is able to get on with his life and excel in something that enables him to make a good contribution to society, then I say more power to him. But to those young guys who are ashamed of their physiques to such a degree that they are hindered in some way, then I say they should join the nearest health club. Health clubs are not the exclusive property of jocks (as I once believed for many years)!
Even if I become as strong as an ox, I will never look down on any guy who is physically weaker because I will always be aware that there are weaker guys who are more spiritual, courageous, or smarter than I.
Please forgive me for ranting and for being so long-winded, but I feel strongly about these issues.
Yeah, I'm an oddball. So what? 