Yes, in rare circumstances we can point to a few obese individuals who do not appear to be at increased risk for heart disease; few things are absolute with biology. But that should offer no consolation to Gov. Christie or anyone else carrying excess weight.

My biggest concern is that solely focusing on weight impedes the health movement's progress. Such a clinical and quantitative frame gives very little thought to -- and leaves no room for a conversation about -- socio-political and environmental factors that pose a threat to our health.

At the population level, epidemic obesity is incontrovertibly established as a clear and all-but-omnipresent danger. It is absurd to suggest otherwise. And it's those who do so -- who play ping-pong with science -- who frighten the hell out of me.

Nowadays, simply knowing how much you weigh isn't enough information to be as healthy as you can be. You need to know your height, since the relationship of weight to height is critically important in determining your overall health.

For all we know about the complex relationship between obesity and health, experts still face a fundamental problem: The tools used to measure body fa...

Truth of the matter is that if you exercise and eat right, the weight will come off. Take a healthy pause, focus your energies on your health and well-being, and your weight will balance out to a nice healthy place.