Mickyc your story reminded me of one from my cousin. My aunt is overweight (as am I) and we discuss it openly and always have. We are very realistic people and call things what they are. Well one day, her 9 year old son came home in tears. She asked what was wrong and he proceeded to tell her that some of the kids were making jokes on the bus and told him a "yo momma is so fat..." joke and he took it literally!! She explained to him what the "yo momma" jokes are and that they weren't intentionally making fun of her in particular!

Her other son is 12 now but when he was about 4 or 5 I had taken him out shopping with me and there was a very overweight man ahead of us. He exclaims to me "that man is fatter than you!!" almost in awe (made me feel like I was 800 pds btw LOL)....I was sooooo embarrassed!!