1. Your weight is not a sign of your value as a person, your moral character, your lack of willpower, or that you “just don’t care.” Body weight is nothing but a number. Numbers don’t define us.

2. You have nothing to hide and no apologies are necessary.

3. You deserve kind treatment as do all human beings. Displays of hostility, bigotry, and prejudice by others isn’t a poor reflection on you; it’s a poor reflection on the person who displays them.

4. Losing weight won’t make you a better person. It might make you a happier person (and it might not!)

5. Weight loss is a personal decision. If your weight stops you from doing things you love or joining in on the fun then your life may be enhanced if you weighed less. If you have health issues caused or made worse by your weight, weight loss could benefit you.

6. If you want to, you can lose weight and keep it off or you can maintain your current weight and avoid more weight gain. You can do it if you want to, but you don’t have to do it to please anybody but yourself.