Fat - Time to Do Something About It

I used the photo pictured above in a post yesterday, the one featuring Discover magazine's list of 20 facts about fat. Not only was this photo fitting for a piece about fat, but I liked it because the man who shares it on flickr.com reveals publicly his repulsion about that spare tire hanging from his middle.

"I'm fat," reads the title of the photo. And the photo description says: "I'm terrified. Putting up this image is the single most horrible thing I've done to myself ... but it's for a purpose. I'm fat. I've been fat for a while. I have a belly and manboobs. I have a 38" waist. Starting today, I'm making a change. It's time to hit the gym. Maybe telling the world that I'm doing it will force me to keep going."

The guy gets some pretty good responses to his display of chub. Some love his honesty; some love his meat. One person declares the vision something akin to a cuddly teddy bear. Another praises his bravery -- "Now that took some courage," writes one dude. "I applaud you. Stay motivated and keep it going. You should photograph your progress like once a week. By the 6th picture, you're really going to see the progress."

So, there are some pretty good ideas that come from my stumbling upon this photo.

• Fat is serious business and calls for serious measures.
• Sometimes you've got to bare your bulge to realize you need a change.
• A little public humiliation can help in the accountability department.
  
• Support can be a powerful motivator -- even when it comes from strangers on the Internet.
• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. One person's fat is another's cuddly bear.
• Photographing yourself through the weight loss process is not a bad idea.

What do you think about this shot? And what are the chances you'd publish your own gut for the whole world to see?