It's been taught to me for as long as I can remember not to make fun of overweight people for that fact. "Sometimes people can't help what they weigh," adults will scold a child who's just called a classmate a "fatso" or "tub of lard."

I wish more of these kids would grow up to be smart enough to realize that that message works in reverse, too. To clarify: you ought not to spear thin people, either.

Ideally, I don't believe in making fun of anybody for anything they can't control, even for most things they can, but I'll be realistic. People make fun, people are made fun of, for a multitude of reasons. Even in the most "perfect" person can a flaw be found by someone; likewise, even in the most "undesirable" of people does a gorgeous attribute exist. No exceptions.

I'll point out to you one trait of mine, the important factor to my point: I'm 5'9", 135 lbs. Very tall, very long-legged, and very naturally thin. I stress: naturally. I'm also quite small-chested, which adds to the illusion that I need to gain weight.

Now, because you might want to know, I'll tell a little about my eating habits. First of all - breakfast: never. I just find the thought of eating nauseating that early in the morning. Instead, if I'm unfortunate enough to be awake before lunchtime, I'll down a snack at around ten a.m. - some fruit, or a candy bar. Lunch: a huge deal for me, my favourite meal. I usually eat two dishes and some small things - example: spaghetti and toast, with crackers and a Pop-Tart. Supper I don't much like, because at my house we have it before I'm really over my lunch, so I'll eat a bit less than I had for lunch, and you'll never find a night when I don't come up to the kitchen at eight or nine o'clock for another snack. Summary: two fair-sized meals a day, plus several snacks, more often than not quite healthy things. I eat plenty.

For one, I believe what statistics have discovered: that it's better to our digestive systems and general longevity to eat several smaller meals throughout the day than three large ones evenly spaced. However, I can't quite adhere to that, as lunch is my big just-got-up-and-I'm-starving meal, and supper in my home is a family ordeal. But, here's another argument for my plight: I'm a picky eater.

What's my point? Whenever I go to family functions, or friends' homes, there's always common food to eat, food I don't like, like potatos and cooked vegetables and pork chops. And when supper rolls around, and I politely decline any of these foods, I'm told it's good for me and I look like I don't eat enough and blah blah blah.

How rude! The amusing thing is, that most of these comments come from family members outside of my home, who rarely witness my eating habits! I'll have you know, I can eat a whole 12" pizza by myself.

So I eat fruit like candy, won't touch alcohol, rarely drink pop, do sit-ups and go for walks whenever I can, in the hopes of maintaining a fit figure, and this is the thanks I get? How would you like it if I invited you to dinner at my house, made all kinds of spicy Mexican foods you didn't want to eat, and then picked on you for being "anorexic" when you shyly said "no, thanks"?

What I don't like: bland foods, like potatos and cooked vegetables; large hunks of dead animal; hamburger; salads, especially with dressing; casseroles; whipped cream; cream cheese; mayonnaise; processed cheese; macaroni and cheese....

What I do like: soft bacon; spicy Mexican foods; pastas with spicy and/or vegetable, not meat, sauces; pizza; hot dogs; tomato soup; lasagna without cottage cheese; put a fruit plate in front of me and I'll eat anything on it.

See, there are all kinds of full-course meals I do like. My mother knows this, and is good at stocking the table with foods I don't just have to "choke down."

Now, I don't pretend that the harassment I get is nearly as bad as that an overweight individual receives, but it's every bit as offensive, and humiliating.

Please, accept that there are all types of bodies - tall and short, thin and large. Just because one leans toward your definition of excessive in one of these area doesn't mean there is a problem.