I have never been one to embrace the theory of conspiracies...until now that is.

Statistics tell us that as a population we are getting physically bigger. This is true of both sexes. Children are developing faster, getting taller and as they grow into adult hood they are getter heavier.

In fact, according to statistics up to 50% of the population is overweight and this section of society is getting bigger (no pun intended) - furthermore the outlook is that bigger bodies will soon outnumber the so called "average" body size.

So why is it that even though we bigger people are fast becoming the new "average" body size, the world and its services still seems to gear everything toward that smaller person?

You will have guessed by now that I fall into that increasing number of bigger bodies.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not unhappy with my body, actually I like my body, curves and love-handles included.

I am not a "thin person inside a big body trying to get out"! God I hate it when I hear that phrase.

What I am is a big person who is sick to death of the conspiracy to make me think that it isn't good to be big!

Ok I am no Elle McPherson (I suspect you aren't either), but surely I am entitled to the same treatment as anyd thin person.

If you are a thin person or fall into the "average" size category you never have to think twice about flying on a plane and dread the trauma of squeezing into an economy seat and hope you can do it without every one seeing you squelch yourself into the seat. And as if that isn't bad enough, when the airline staff ask you if you need a belt extension they do it in booming, confident and (they think) helpful tones.

I don't need the extension. I just can't find the seatbelt at all! I seem to have sucked it into the side of the seat when I sat down. I am obviously not going to share this with Miss Size 10 stewardess, so I just accept the offer of the extension red-faced and humiliated...Again!

Would it be so hard for the airlines to dedicate a few of wider seats to this growing number of people?

Since the number of adults who are inclined to be larger is on the increase, why is it that whenever I go shopping in any shopping Mall that has an average of 200 fashion stores, only 3 or 4 of these are actually dedicated to us bigger girls.

Not only do I have only a handful of stores that I can find clothes to fit me, I have to endure the "special" labelling of these stores because they seem to think that unless they label themselves as "big" fashion shops we might never find them. To my knowledge there are no statistics or evidence that as your body gets bigger your IQ gets smaller!

If I want to shop on the internet (which is becoming more and more the best place for me to shop) I can't just "Google" women's fashion...OH NO!!!

I have to key in "plus Size" or "Larger sizes"!!

Ok I know that this not a real; big deal but I really believe that its just another example of us bigger people being singled out as "out of the norm".

I could give you so many more examples of this frustrating phenomenon, but I won't...I am sure that by now you get my general drift.

So now here is where the conspiracy theory comes in.

The world seems to think that we all want to be thin and that all the Television shows showing big people weighing themselves in lycra, the lack of choice at shopping Malls ,Airlines ,not to mention small car manufactures are conspiring to give the impression that unless you have an "average " body size you are always going to miss out. That if you lose weight life will be better, and you will be "normal" and love it!

Huh! Forget it...I love my body and I don't want to be "average"

Actually I am special but you just don't know it yet.

According to the statistics before long I will be the one with all the choices!