NYT's Idea Lab: Losing the Weight Stigma
This is an interesting article in the Time's Magazine about the "healthy at any weight" movement. The idea is that focusing on body weight as a metric for health is not supported by evidence, and the label "fat" can be detrimental to a person's self-image.
The article cites a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine that a large number of overweight and obese people have normal health indicators such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. So, labeling these people as unhealthy by this definition is wrong.
I do think it's important for everyone to have a positive self-image and self confidence. I do also wholeheartedly agree that sometimes people who are obese suffer from discrimination (a poll in the UK found that 90 percent of hiring managers would hire a thinner applicant over an obese one (The Times, London 1/23/2008)). So, I think health care professionals need to guard against labeling people offhand based on a BMI chart.
However, overweight and obesity IS a problem in this country, and around the world. Not addressing the problem because of fear of offense is also not a solution. Blaming the victim is not helpful, but neither is placation. The researcher in the article who advocates fat acceptance recommends eating only when hungry, and replacing junk with nutritious food. Isn't that what we all should be doing, regardless of size?
If it were only so easy.
Comments
What an interesting article that was. It really makes you think about what is important. Clearly all researchers are not looking at obesity from all angles - which is neccessary if we are to move towards a healthier population. There is a lot of research out there on fat stigma and discrimination-which is definately of worry to me - especially among children. Teasing and bullying because of ones weight can be extremely difficult for a child to deal with. There has also been some research that this can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy. So props to this article for taking a look at obesity through a different lens- I think it will be a booming area of research in the years to come.
Posted by: Michelle Weltzien | October 19, 2008 10:43 PM
I agree with you. People are not going to lose more weight and obesity rates are not going to decrease if we use the word "fat" less or never. I think that it is a simple as eating right, drinking enough water and exercising to loose and maintain weight. However, that simple solution is much easier said than done. I read an article about a gene in people who over eat not because it tastes good but because their brain "tells them too." Quite interesting. Check it out on my blog, Wedding Dress.
Posted by: Sara | October 20, 2008 2:51 PM