After I turned 40 I found my weight getting out of my control, or so I felt. For me, my weight is a huge issue. I fight every day to keep it with in my acceptable margin. I know I am not young anymore and my motablisum has changed as well as my activity levels, but I will not give up the battle. I see people all around me that just let it go, men more so than women, and it puzzles me. We hear everyday how we live in an obeas (damn spell check) society. It's not healthy and I want a partner that is healthy. Not someone that looks like a canadate for diabietis or a heart attack. What gets me is how our acceptance for the over weight has affected our children today. I have a 6 year old child that lives next door to me that weighs more than I do. You can't tell me that this is healthy. Sure she's big boned, but no 6 year old should ever weigh more than a hundred pounds and she is far beyond that mark. At 6 years old she is already on the road to a very unhealthy life. So to answer your question, "Why is physical apperance such an issue", I believe people are naturaly attracted to a healthy looking companion. A few extra pounds or even down sized, can be acceptable, but when it starts to look like it could affect their health, it becomes a turn off. There is nothing shallow about wanting a healthy looking partner. For some people the idea of excess weight is as big a turn off as a drunk or a druggy. Not a shallow concept, just practical.