Well, I would disagree with the assertion that wanting to look good HAS TO BE for someone else's benefit... losing weight, at least for me, is more than just so that I can look good to other people -- it's so I can feel better, about myself -- emotionally, physically, everything. My motivations to lose weight are 100% for my benefit.

In terms of health... well, I'm 24 years old now. When I first began taking my weight problem seriously, I was 19 (about to be 20). Even at 264lbs and 5'4" tall, although I felt terrible about myself and all, I had normal blood pressure, normal cholesterol, no diabetes or heart problems, no breathing problems, no knee or joint problems, etc etc. I wasn't (yet) experiencing any negative health affects of being obese. That's not to say that, given time and some aging, i wouldn't have developed them, but at that point, I had no immediate health reasons to lose weight. Also, when you're 19... I mean, I'm a pretty cautious person, but who worries about what they're health will be in middle age when they're 19 years old?

But even though 99% of my desire to lose weight was for "superficial" reasons -- wanting to look and feel better physically -- I still did it completely and totally for myself.

And some of us have discovered that healthy IS sexy ;)

:high: great comment, Chickie.

And some of us have discovered that healthy IS sexy

Love this!!!LOL Certainly helps to get gloser without the gut in the way

Isn't obesity a health issue on its own? Think of all the health problems come hand in hand (or least one's probability to end up with) cardiovascular issues, high blood pressure, diabetes, breast cancer - to name just a few. My health was definitely a strong factor in my decision to lose weight. I am not saying it was the only one, I, too, want to look better and sexier yadi yadi yada, but as someone who inherited genes for varicose veins, HBP and breast cancer, health was high on the list of my reasons.

Vanity can be a motivator for sure ;) Nothing is wrong at all about that. I want to look good for myself and reap all of the healthy benefits that goes along with losing weight. That is not saying this is the only reason that I want to lose. There are so many things that losing weight can and will help in the long run.

I have heart disease and other misc things that run in my family and that is always on the back of my mind. It doesn't however keep me motivated.

Welcome to 3FC :) The more you get involved the more you'll see that we all have different things that are making us want to lose the pounds but it's all for the common cause!

Tomato- I think I'm the only who thinks this- lol I don't believe Obesity is a health issue on its own, it is rather a symptom... I find that most people don't just get fat because they're happy healthy people, you tend to gain weight as a result of something else in your life. Whether it be genetics- health problems, or emotional ones... I think the weight loss journey itself is a way of dealing with the other issues in our life. Meaning, we try to get our weight down so that our blood sugar stays level, etc :)

I lost 6 stone and looked much worse afterwards due to saggy skin! To be honest I was so disheartened that I think that may have been one of the reasons why I let four of those stones creep back on...Now I am doing it purely for health - but if my face looks better for the loss then I will be pleased. I know that the rest of me won't but I can live with that!

I'll admit that vanity is probably at least 50 % of the reason I want to lose weight. I wish I wasn't that vain, but I am. When I was younger, vanity was 100% the reason, though. As I've gotten older, I've started thinking about my health more and about the fact that many people on my father's side of the family have diabetes (and I take after him)!

I think one of the reasons people tend to lose weight to look good (rather than specifically for health reasons) is that our society is so image-conscious.

Welcome!