I travel all over the world every year, Louise, and what I see all over the world doesn’t support your statement about “the bulk of humanity.” It just doesn’t. With respect, from African nations to island countries in the Pacific, a woman of size is revered and celebrated. I am not at all trying to make you wrong. I simply wish to suggest that while our experience in Western nations, driven so very much by media saturation, is that there is a so-called “ideal,” that is simply not embraced as widely as you state here. I understand what you’re trying to say. However, it isn’t supported by those societies which do not agree with what Western stupidity- and believe me I agree with you on this — try to dictate to the rest of the world.

But here’s the rub: I just spent five weeks in Mongolia, where the women tend to be somewhat short and squat by genetic design. Ulaan Bataar, the capital, is a bustling city falling all over itself to catch up to the West, having shrugged its Communist heritage barely a quarter of a century ago. There, I can tell with authority, the women have embraced with gusto the notion of anorexic thin, in order to be modern and fashionable. That is a distressing trend, for already it’s begun to cause eating disorders. I don’t have answers, Louise, just questions. Once you leave the capital city, nobody cares about what Westerners think. I’ve noticed that where cell phones have allowed people to view Western ads, those messages are making headway. It’s disturbing as shit, but that’s how powerful media messaging is. To your point.