A new survery found that more than three-quarters of obese Americans say they have healthy eating habits. And about 40 percent of obese people also said they do "vigorous" exercise at least three times a week, according to an Associated Press article.

"There is, perhaps, some denial going on. Or there is a lack of understanding of what does it mean to be eating healthy, and what is vigorous exercise," said Dr. David Schutt of Thomson Medstat, the Michigan-based health-care research firm that conducted the survey.

Yes, there is surely denial going on and while we must take responsibility for our own bodies, something else is also at play. People who are fat already feel ashamed so there is no way they are going to admit to eating unhealthy diets. And of course they will claim to exercise. We are always our own worst critics but why open the door for someone else to beat up on us too?

My current doctor is the only one I ever talked openly and honestly with about my weight. And that is because she was kind, considerate and non-judgemental about the issue. Maybe if more folks had that approach, we could swim out of Denial and into smaller clothing.

Check out the full article and let me know what you think.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com