In some countries, it would be a personal offense to be called fat or skinny, but it would also be considered breaking a code of law. In America the vast majority of people very seldom use names to describe fellow citizens; instead, physical characteristics are used. People are described or referred to as fat, skinny, obese, thin, heavy, and even anorexic. This form of description has become so typical that most people do not even think twice about using these words. How does it make people feel when giving these labels? When given the title of being fat or skinny it sometimes makes people feel insecure about the way they look and feel.
             Many Americans have a preconceived idea of what the ideal weight is. When someone is five pounds heavier than this "ideal body weight", he or she is given a label. These people are labeled as fat, obese, heavy, or large. Many of the "average people" even associate other characteristics with being overweight. If someone is overweight, he or she is also assumed sloppy, lazy, nasty, and ugly. Who decides what average or ideal is? Why do so many people think that if someone is not the perfect size then he or she is not attractive? On the other hand, many people who are stereotyped as fat think that the skinny people do not go through the same torment and torture.
             People who are a little underweight go through the same criticism and face the same preconceived notions that the overweight group faces. The "skinnies" are a lot different from the overweight class, but they are still faced with the same problems. They do not fit into the ideal body weight classification either. Consequently, they are named as skinny, thin, anorexic, bulimic, or too small. With these names, comes a mile-long list of assumed characteristics. The "skinnies" are also labeled as obsessive, unhealthy, controlling, and even mentally unstable. These people usua
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