Tue. Feb 24, 2009 | 3:17 PM

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An emotional and empowering hour you can't miss.

Obese teens talk about their struggles with weight and the heartache they've experienced due to their size. Meet their concerned family members who are afraid their loved ones will die if they don't do something to start losing weight now. The teens hear the straight (and sometimes painful) truth from a doctor, and they meet with exercise expert Jorge Cruise to develop a weight loss program that's right for them. Plus, "Cheetah Girl" Sabrina Bryan shares her own story about growing up overweight. This is an hour you can't miss!

Tell Us: Are you picked on because of your weight?


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Hello Tyra. I am 19 years old and I've been overweight for as long as I can remember. While I didn't see this particular episode I did see others regarding obese teens. I can very much relate on a personal and painful level because for a great majority of my life before high school I was constantly picked on, teased, harrassed, and sometimes even had things thrown at me and people wanting to start fights with me because of my weight. Tears well up in my eyes every time I see an overweight person regardless of their age or gender and I see them go through the same things I go through every day. Thank you for bringing light to these issues which affect teen communities Tyra.
Posted by Marla Austin 02/27/09 8:13 PM
 
Hi Tyra, im 15 years old, 5'4, and 257 pounds! I have been obese for as long as I can remember. When I look back at all my old friends and to the friends I have now I have noticed that they all have something in common...they arnt all that small either. I have never really noticed this but maybe it is an unconscious thing, choosing friends that are "like me". I cant even mention all the teasing and being made fun of but let me tell you it doesnt make the situation any better. I cant count how many different ways and times I have tried to shed the weight but it just doesnt come off. last spring I managed to bring myself down to 231 (WooHoo), but when school started back up the weight piled back on. On top of school I have been having some legal issues and it is also my freshman year of high school so the pressure is on! I want to lose the weight and feel good about myself for once but I have just given up. I am not sure how to acomplish my goal and I am in need of some real help I cant live like this forever. Thank You so much, Emily
Posted by emily 02/27/09 5:31 PM
 
I didn't watch this episode on wednesday but the girl in pink goes to my school at Spring Valley High School in Las Vegas and her name is Aubrey D. and I have a class with her and last year as well and she's a really sweet person and she's sucha funny person and I think it's great she went on the show to talk about her physical appearance and how she feels about herself and I'd like to have the courage to do that and no one at school makes fun of her for her weight, we all respect her and I think it's a good opportunity for her.
Posted by Name Withheld 02/27/09 5:03 PM
 
Tyra, I hope that you do a follow up show on these girls. I would love to hear how they are doing. In watching your show I had tears in my eyes. I was an overweight teen. I was an obsese adult I had gastric bypass surgery on 2-5-08,and it has changed my life!! I would love to talk to them and tell them they do have friends!! I would love to be one of them. They are ALL beautiful ladies who will make their mark in the world. Beauty comes from within and they have to loves themselves first, and everyone else will follow suit!! I would love to be on your show to tell them it's ok and give them all hugs!! When I had my surgery at my HEAVIEST I was 354lbs now I am down to 212. I would love to go shopping with them and have a day on the town with them (my treat!) I don't have alot of money but a shot of self esteem is worth so much more!! Keep your chin up ladies, it does get easier!! Thank you Tyra for caring about them!! ~Ina A :)
Posted by Ina A 02/27/09 2:08 PM
 
I forgot to give this message to the girls on your show. I want to say that they are beautiful both inside and outside. I know people can be creul but try not to let that stop you from what's important, how you feel about yourself. No one has the right to define who you are only oneself can. As for the weight loss, I wish you girls the best of luck.
Posted by Brook 02/27/09 12:44 PM
 
Hey Tyra. I am 14 years old, and while I am not overweight/obese this show actually brought tears to my eyes. I found it hard to comprehend that these girls cannot make friends. I myself have never ostracized someone because of their weight. These girls all have beautiful hearts and souls and it was so hard to watch them cry and talk about their struggles. I want to thank you for airing this show, since I do have a very close friend who is obese, and she was watching the show with me. She never really feels open talking about her weight with me and I'm glad she got to see other girls going through the same thing as her. I don't only think it is obese girls that are only teased about their size. I am pretty petite myself and people make comments all the time. I even have a sister who used to be as thin as a rail, and because of all the comments people made, she tried to gain weight but became slightly overweight instead. People don't realize that being thin isn't everything and that the comments they make only make us more conscious about our size. I wish these girls the best and hope that when they look in the mirror they see what I see in them, beautiful strong women :]
Posted by Jennifer 02/27/09 12:31 PM
 
Hi Tyra, I just want to say that I'm been your biggest fan since I was like ten. Anyways, I've seen your show about teen obesity and I can relate. I'm 4'11 and was about 160-170 by the time I was a sophmore. No matter what I did I couldn't get rid of the weight. It made so mad sometimes especially when my friends were always getting hit on and I was ignore. I'm 20 now and about last year I started to do something with my weight. I joined Curves and I even walk there (it's about a 2.5- 3 mile walk). I've lost about 30 pounds and I need to get down to about 110 t be considered in the healthy BMI.
Posted by Brook 02/27/09 12:24 PM
 
Tyra, It is a shame these young girls have few if any friends because of weight. I know that it bothers me to see young women so heavy it is so unhealthy. I hope they all can accomplish getting to a healthier weight. Unfortunately our society judges by looks but we also know that young ladies this big have other stigmas because of things they may not be able to do because of their size. I wish them the best of luck on becoming healthier so they can go out and experience life as young women.
Posted by lisa 02/27/09 5:26 AM
 
I was obese for all of my teen years. I was ashamed of how I looked even in my wedding photos. For me, the whole idea of "thinking thin" and drinking as much water as I could hold slimmed me down to 150 pounds. Guess what? I still feel fat. I had to go to a specialist this week and my primary care doctor had me hand carry a copy of my file with me. One the file he called me Morbidly Obese. I was horrified by this label. We need to stop putting labels on people and start seeing them as individuals. It sickens me that the film industry, fashion industry, require women to be underweight at an unhealthy level to even be considered for work. If a teen is a healthy weight, she's called a plus size model. This needs to stop before more girls starve themselves to death.
Posted by Lise 02/26/09 9:26 PM
 
hey tyra i catched the second half of your show the other day and i heard a part of one of the girls having like dark onthe back of her neck and trying to scrub it thinking it was dirt. i wanna get all the information about what it really is please.. thanks!!
Posted by amber 02/26/09 2:29 PM
 
Hi, Tyra! I'm 14 years old and 230lbs. I wanted to let you know that I thought your show was very inpowering yesterday. I've been struggling with weight all my life. I will definitely use the tips you gave for food. I love ice-cream so I will look forward to trying out some of the healthier ice-cream you had on your show. I know that I need to do something. Not only to be healthier, but also to build my self esteem. I've been trying to lose weight by using the wii fit I got for Christmas. My advice for the girls is if you have a wii then get a wii fit and use it for at least 30 minutes a day. If they also use your healthier eating tips, I guarantee they will see results after the first month. Well thank you Tyra and good luck girls!!
Posted by Kelsi 02/26/09 1:46 PM
 
hey tyra would love to come in contact with the gurls i know what they are going through. am much older than them but would love to become thier firends plz get back to me my myspace url datru3on3 thank you
Posted by natividad 02/26/09 1:40 PM
 
Hey Tyra, I'm also over weight at the age of 19. I have been put down all my life for this... I didn't start getting bigger until my mom got married to this man and he started putting me down all the time. Then i started eating more and gaining more and more weight. Now here i am and i have try a lot of things to lose weight and it seems nothing helps. I want to lose this weight and be healthy and i want to feel good about myself... I have a sort of low self esteem and i really don't like going out in public because i feel like everyone is starring at me. I hate eating in front of people even my family members.I would also like to talk with the girls on the show... So if there is some way i can contact them or them contact me please let me know. thanks for your time!!!
Posted by Lisa Sade 02/26/09 1:33 PM
 
Hi Tyra, the show was great and the girls were so sweet. I would like some more info about the healthy food like the sweetener, greek yogurt and soda that George presented during the show. Where can I get them?
Posted by Cathy 02/26/09 11:47 AM
 
i watched this show the other day and i wish i could be friends with those girls,they are so sweet and i can understand them completely,I'm also overweight and I'm only 14,if there was a way that i could contact them and talk with them and give them support i would love to be able to do so.i know they said they didn't have many friends and well,i just want all of those girls have a friend in me if they want one :) @};- ~Amber~
Posted by Amber 02/26/09 11:16 AM



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