Editing Excess Weight (section)

== In Judaism ==
In the Torah, a fat person is referred to as "ish bari" (healthy man), and in the language of the Sages as "baal basar" (one with flesh).

It is told about the Amora Rav Papa bar Abba that he was a baal basar. It is also related that when the Tannaim Rabbi Yishmael ben Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon would converse with each other, a pair of oxen could pass between their legs without touching them. Additionally, the Gemara counts the body size of Rabbi Yochanan and Rav Papa. The Tosafot explain that the Gemara's intention in mentioning this is so that people would not speak ill of others who are also baal basar.

The Rebbe Rayatz (Previous Rebbe) relates in the name of his father, the Rebbe Rashab: "From spiritual pleasure in Elokut (Divinity), there can result fatness in the body. It is said about Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl that he became fat in his body from answering 'Amen Yehei Shmei Rabba'".

Regarding a person refraining from eating and drinking things that are harmful to him, although it is forbidden for a person to prevent himself from eating and drinking without reason, when he does so for health purposes, and does not completely prohibit himself from putting this food or drink in his mouth, but only reduces it - there is no prohibition in this at all.