One of the most perplexing riddles that has challenged humankind for centuries revolves around the question, "Is the glass half-full or is it half-empty?"

George Carlin deadpans that neither choice is relevant, that the real answer is simply that the glass is too big.

This philosophical question came to mind when I happened across a Web site this past week that claims to be one of the leading health-care sites. (You can find it at www.onhealth.com) What caught my interest was its "BMI calculator."

"BMI" stands for "body-mass index." Here’s how it works; a simple equation is utilized to determine a BMI score. Divide a person’s weight in kilograms by his or her height in meters squared (BMI = kg/m2).

You simply enter your current weight, your height in feet and inches, and press the "submit" button and lickety-split you get your score. Your score will tell you if you are overweight, obese, underweight or like the little bear’s rocking chair, "just right!"

What concerns the folks at this particular site is the survey that they quote that says that between 1991 and 1998 obesity has really wreaked havoc in this country. Not only that, but 65 percent of people who responded to their Web site poll admitted that they are overweight.

"Only smoking exceeds obesity in its contribution to total mortality rates in the United States," said Dr. William Dietz, director of the Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity at the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Obesity is determined by using the BMI method of comparing height and weight. A score of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, anything over 30 is determined to be obese.

That’s where that glass of water came to mind. As I sat in front of my computer and calculated my BMI score, (you can guess what number I was over), I began to think, "What if these folks are wrong?"

I mean about all of us being overweight. Assuming, of course, that their equation is correct and their conclusions are on target, but their solution is misguided.

What if, rather than gaining too much weight for our height, we actually failed to gain the correct amount of height for our weight?

Perhaps, just perhaps, we are NOT overweight, perhaps, we are UNDER height.

I decided to test this theory.

I kept my weight the same in the calculator and changed my height from 6 feet to 6 feet 3 inches.

That proved to be insufficient. I changed my height to 6 feet 6 inches and then to 6 feet 9 inches and so on.

This could open up a tremendous amount of opportunity. There are billions of dollars spent and made in this world by people offering weight-loss programs, weight-loss books, and weight-loss treatments. A new door to riches can be made by those clever enough to cash in on height-gaining programs, books, diets, etc.

Then again, maybe that’s what happened to the dinosaurs. They gained weight, got taller to compensate. Gained more weight, got even taller. I don’t think I have to remind you what happened to the dinosaurs. I guess I’ll stick to my diet and get to that sub-25 BMI number.

I’ve also thought, what if we have the folks in our Kiwanis club calculate their BMI numbers and then pay a fine to benefit our IDD program for every point over "normal."