I use to be overweight and although it doesn't make sense I felt inferior to others. I would shy away because I thought if I stood out or spoke up people would think I was just a stupid fat girl. America is horbibly prejudiced towards fat people (or ugly, or some other stuff that shouldn't matter either)So anyway I also felt I couldn't wear lots of different cloths because who wants to se a fat guy in a little shirt (my fav. line from Tommy Boy). People look at you differently when you are fat, even my grandmother was cold to me when I was overweight but now she is much more welcoming and friendly and even admitted that yeah she feels a lot better about me now that I'm not "ugly". Now that I am thin I feel much more confident, and like I can be me. So reach out to your friend and love and respect him/her because he/she probibly wants and needs acceptance. To all those of you who are still heavy- don't be afraid to be yourself because when I was over weight I wasted 3 years not because of the weight but because I let the weight bring me down.