Ben wrote:

>Only recently
>have I truly realized that the best thing is just to stay out of everybody's
>business.  If they are curious about what you're doing, or interested in it,
>they will most likely ask you.  To each his or her own.  Life tends to be a
>bit more calm when I take that perspective.

This is true, and I tend to take a similar approach on the whole. However,
if I have contact with people whose quality of life is obviously and
significantly impaired through health problems (such as obesity,
arthritis), it is difficult to remain silent on the issue that a change in
diet might be very helpful to them and not as difficult as they perhaps
imagine. I try to work out how I can bring it up in an appropriate and
tactful way so as not to appear patronising or arrogant. And then I
remember how little I really know about all this and wonder whether it is
possible to say anything without appearing presumptuous.

It is a very fine line to tread, and one that I feel needs a lot of careful
thought. Particularly as we (e.g. the people on this list) probably give
our physical health a very high priority, and we tend to assume that
everyone else does so too. It is easy to forget that other people may value
other things in their lives (such as conformity with those around them)
more, even if it means that they may not live quite as long or as healthily
as they might otherwise. Social and emotional health are very important
too, and if people perceive these to be threatened by a change in diet,
then they may be better off overall if they are not urged to give up things
that they feel attached to.

Regards,
Barbara