She could have just ignored the email, but instead Jennifer Livingston showed remarkable courage in addressing the matter head-on: 

This raises some interesting issues. For one, it's a reminder of sorts that women in television news don't typically look like Jennifer Livingston. I suppose when it comes to being on television, appearance is a factor. But should being attractive outweigh one's skills as a reporter or anchor?

The other issue is around obesity itself. Is society receiving mixed messages? I think so, which in part speaks to how we're struggling to deal with the issue. On the one hand, we describe obesity as an epidemic and a problem. But on the other hand, we don't want to discriminate against people who are overweight or obese. So do we accept them or try to fix them? (Interestingly, discrimination based on weight may actually make the problem worse)

Also, we're told that obesity is complex and that we shouldn't blame obese people for their situation. Yet, we're also told that simplistic measures like junk food taxes are needed because we need to discourage the bad choices that lead to obesity. So which is it? Factors beyond the individual's control or bad choices?

As obesity expert Dr. Arya Sharma notes:

The complexity of some of these ‘well meant’ initiatives can have unintended ethically problematic consequences: e.g. ‘demonizing’ candy, fast food, or chocolate milk can ostracize the child, who consumes these foods because of socioeconomic or other constraints. Oversimplistic and unrealistic messages about the benefits of diet and exercise can not only reenforce obesity bias and stigma but also lead to disengagement by the very individuals, for whom these messages are intended.

Not to defend the author of the offensive email sent to Jennifer Livingston, but maybe he's confused by these mixed messages.

For