Tell me about it Stephanie--I am the gatekeeper at an Endocrinology practice and what sits at the gate is a weighing scale. Always above 200 lbs I keep this scale and when upon this instrument mounts a patient's body less than 200 lbs I gasp with disbelief that a miracle has happened in my office that day. Enough to break out the chablis and dance for joy--I'll take anything--even one person, 198 lbs, is a sign of hope that the day is looking up for me--that the gloomy clouds are lifting in the sky--that there is a ray of sunshine in the horizon. Here are the excuses I hear, "My husband tells me there is more of me to love doc--he gets upset when I lose too much weight!" "I've always been this way doc--even in high school I was a big girl--I remember in 9th grade I weighed 200 lbs--it never bothered me!" "My father was a big husky guy, my mother was a tiny woman. My father is still alive and eighty four and guess what--it is my mother who died at age 50--go figure!" "I don't believe in exercise!" Here are my replies in order--"He won't have any of you to love when you are dead from high blood pressure. Did you tell your husband that?" "Just because you have been fat for ever does not mean you have to be fat for ever more and ever more fat!" "Did it occur to you, your mom may have died earlier than your dad taking care of his big and husky needs? Poor woman!" "I don't believe in keeping my weighing scale always at 200 lbs or above--so you better start believing in exercise." Thus goes my life in America where every 200 pounder thinks he or she is svelte, curvaceous or pleasantly plump and very man who looks like he is in the third trimester of pregnancy refuses to deliver his child.
Having fun in our health care system--save me!

Thanks for this blog entry and to "Having fun in our health care system" for his/her comment. I have bookmarked this page and printed it to a PDF file. I have been stable (and uncomfortable) at 225 pounds for years, and for some time it has been my goal just to get back below 200. Your comment confirms for me that this simple health goal is reasonable and adequate: Just get below 200 and stay there.

And Leon I wish you the best of good health and success in your goal--you can do it and remember I will cross my finger for you tonight and wish upon the universe to guide you to your success.
Having fun in the health care system.

200 lbs. is not a hard and fast demarcation of obesity. At 6'4" I weigh 220 lbs. I practice yoga daily and am thin, regardless of what the previous posters say. For me to get below 200 lbs would be very unhealthy.

A truer test of overall health would be a combination of a person's functional strength, balance, flexibility, energy level and mental health. If all of these are good, their weight is not going to be much of an issue.