[quote=nostradamus][quote=seattle-relo] Also, I think there are cultural attitudes about physical appearance – like being able to look good in a bikini on the beach.[/quote]
Looking good in a bikini is nice, but I’m more concerned with being well enough to enjoy a long, stress-free life well into my golden years. When you’re in your 30’s, 40’s, 50’s it’s easy to say health is all about appearance… Later on when the poor-diet-and-exercise-induced illnesses set in, you may find that keeping in good health pays off in more ways than just appearance…

Just before my dad died I asked him if he wanted to leave me with any advice he had learned in his many years (he lived until 91 and was almost 60 when I was born). He was a doctor– a pathologist. He said: take care of your teeth, and avoid fat. His whole career was spent diagnosing illnesses, the majority of which he believe could be traced to the levels of fat in your body. He learned to skateboard at age 80, the same year I set him up on the internet.

I can’t discredit the words of my dad on his death bed and have used his advice since! San Diego is an easy place to do it. Surf all year, snowboard in the winter, volleyball all year, scuba, hiking, swimming, you name it. We have many sports clubs, fitness centers, and plain old nature trails for the outdoorsy types.[/quote]

I was refering to why you might see more thin people in southern CA than in other regions in the country. I agree that looking good in a bikini isn’t nearly as important as maintaining your health for later in life. But I think in general, in southern CA, the reason you see more thin people is more about culture than staying healthy. Fortunately SD has wonderful opportunitites for a wide range of physical activity.