I can tell you I have more self-esteem now at 240lbs than I did at 140. I was skinny and fit and had a 6-pack and HATED my body. I thought I was the most disgusting thing to walk this earth. Becoming fat was in a twisted way a blessing because I learned to love me for ME and not for how I looked. I was vain and self-absorbed and would pick at every invisible fat roll when I was skinny. Self-esteem should never be connected to the way you look. The only reason it is for some people, I think, is because society says it's "bad and wrong" to be overweight. Well, as a former skinny person... if you don't love yourself, you won't love your body no matter how it looks. Now I hope to lose the weight so my inner confidence matches my outward appearance.