About the smoking thing: It is true that many people who remain thin as smokers put on weight soon after they quit. This is probably because they're enjoying food more, eating more, and it's even more because their body is not depleting itself all the time trying to fight a rearguard action against the ill effects of the smoking habit.

In my case, I have never smoked and I've always been thin. My parents are both quite fat (and started getting that way in their 30's and 40's). I am 55 and I'm still thin. GUEST's argument has just gone down in flames... :-)

It's attitude. Attitude is the most important thing. Your body type and your general behaviour tend to develop from your inner attitude, and attitude goes deep. Sometimes deeper than you think.

Some people are happy to be large, some are happy to be small. Either way of being happy sounds good to me. Some people wouldn't be happy no matter what size they were. Ask Abe Lincoln about that. He said, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

- LH