I don't have much to say about the main point of this report, which is that the media coverage of obesity effects the plight of fat rights activists. But I do take exception with fact that she uses a known flawed study to support her arguments.
While the proportion of Americans who can be classified as obese may have risen 20 percent since 1980, the so-called obesity epidemic is at best a metaphor and not a very effective one at that, suggests a UCLA study in the current issue of the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law.
...
"The term 'epidemic' refers to the rapid and episodic onset of infectious diseases and is associated with fear of sudden widespread death," she said. "Deaths attributed to obesity are calculated using odd ratios, which are often only slightly higher for those in the obese categories. This is a much looser use of the term 'epidemic' than, say, the flu epidemic."
In fact, recent research has found no appreciable difference in mortality rates among fat Americans with a BMI less than 35.
via Starling Fitness
The recent research she is referring to is the study "Excess deaths associated with underweight, overweight, and obesity." by Flegal KM, Graubard BI, Williamson DF et al. published in JAMA in 2005. Unfortunately that study was flawed in ways that have been well understood since the 80s. For more information see:
Flawed Obesity Study Minimizes Health Risks of Excess Weight
The authors of that report had an opportunity to respond to their critics in a symposium held on May 26, 2005. They declined to participate in that symposium. You can see a webcast of the symposium here:
Weighing the Evidence