Weight affects how littlest kids see themselves (Reuters)

Kids can be hurtful and cruel beginning in kindergarten, with their remarks toward a husky, pudgy, or fat child, as well as a child who is "different" in other ways, ie handicapped in some way.

I remember it well. Grew up chubby, and slimmed down due to normal growth. Was a normal wt. and ht. by 9th grade. Those early years were tough though. Still remember the hassling and rude remarks causing emotional pain-- 6 decades later.

Still lingering effects that show in my adult behavior...a great hesitation in making new friends. Am afraid they will get to know me well, and will judge me as lacking, or criticize. Strange?...yup, but there it is! A fear learned early on stays with you always...

Skinny people are weak. Not that obese is great. But, if there are children at this age getting this sort of crap from their peers, it tells me that we are still looking at too many movie stars for our take on reality. Not all obese children are obese adults, and we all have seen plenty of skinny children who turned out to be obese adults. Skinny is weak, the research will soon show that. The skinny 70 yr old will succumb to the hospital bed death weeks, maybe months before the fatter 70 yr old. Skinny is weak.

I think American kids are not exercising as much as they should. Too much TV and Computers., too many parents working and everyone eating fast foods. In later years, there will be a lot of unhealthy , sickly people. We must get out and enjoy the outdoors more. Too many over-weight children and adults............