How can that be? I preface this post with the disclaimer that I am not a medical professional. I am open to the possibility of extenuating circumstances. But honestly, if an obese person told me they were living a healthy lifestyle -- eating nutritious meals and exercising vigorously at least three times a week -- I'd be looking over their shoulder for Alice and the hookah pipe smoking caterpillar -- because I'd be under the impression reality had just taken a wavy turn to the left.

According to the Michigan-based health-care research firm Thomson Medstat, in a survey study involving 11,000 people, the majority of obese Americans stated they are living a healthy lifestyle because of healthy living habits and over 75 percent indicated they are involved in vigorous exercise at least three times a week.

To this Dr. David Schutt, from Thomson Medstat said, "There is, perhaps, some denial going on. Or there is a lack of understanding of what does it mean to be eating healthy, and what is vigorous exercise." Ya think? I am certain I may have just alienated over 60 percent of the American population, because that is how many people in this country are considered overweight, according to the Records from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

I do not get as much exercise as I should. While I am well aware of the benefits of consuming healthy food, I will admit to the enjoyment of the occasional Little Debbie Cosmic Brownie or slice of Funfetti cake with Funfetti frosting because quite frankly, it is cheery food. But I am realistic that the ten extra pounds I am carrying around has to do with the eating more and moving less syndrome, and I cannot imagine anyone who is overweight not realizing or owning up to the reasons for the extra weight. As to extenuating circumstances all I can think is perhaps the survey questions were framed in such a way as to make the results appear as if overweight people live in some foggy realm of denial? What's your take on this topic?