I fully support the philosophy of going as light and as practical as possible...

But how many people are counting the ounces, but not counting the extra pounds which they are possibly carrying in the shape of excess body fat?

I believe that it is madness going for ultra/light weight kit if one is overweight. It is a contradiction. Weight is weight, whether it is on your shoulders or hanging off your arse.

I read a journal entry of a 2013 thru-hiker who arrived at Hot Springs and had lost 25 lbs in body weight. Congratulations on the weight loss, but why carry the extra body weight to start with? It would have been much easier to start without the additional weight penalty.

Starting a thru hike when you over weight is (IMO) stacking the odds against success, the same as those that carry excessively weighted backpacks. Yes, I am aware of people who started overweight and have succeeded. But how many people leave the trail prematurely and needlessly, because they are overweight? The greater the overall weight, the greater the risk of injury and or serious fatigue. It therefore matters not, if overweight people were carrying a 4lb base weight when they started their thru hike.

I'm just shooting the **** and my comments are not intended to offend anyone. Lightweight Vs Overweight?