Healthy Body Weight Is Hot!
The “thin is in” mantra
may still permeate part of our American culture but the big trend in
America is finally moving in the direction of “healthy body weight.”
That’s hot! Advertisers like Dove are using real women with real curves.
Women with “junk in the trunk” are the new sex symbols in music videos,
and there’s even work for both plus-size and petite models. This is a
major step forward from just a few years back. Nevertheless, too many
Americans are still preoccupied with their body weight. More than half
of women and more than one-third of men are dissatisfied with their
shape, size, or body weight. And these obsessions are even higher among
our younger population. In many cases, people see themselves as much
worse off than others see them. How do you see yourself? What can we do
about this?
Is Body Weight Constant Throughout Life?
There
are many people who focus on a set body weight based on the chart found
on the wall of the doctor’s office or illustrated in a book. Some
believe that this number is set in stone and that it should not vary
throughout adult life. They think that their weight in their twenties
should remain constant through their thirties, forties, and beyond.
Focusing on a set number can be the first step in developing an
obsession with body weight. Too many times, people dwell on what they
weighed when they got married or before they had a child. (Isn’t it
funny how we can clearly remember these numbers?) This obsession can
take over your life and can lead to problems with health, depression,
and your overall well-being. I’m not saying you should let yourself go
and become obese or overweight, but realize that our bodies do change as
we age. Fear not—with my program you can look and feel your personal best at any given point in time.
Who Decides What’s Ideal?
Once upon a time there
was a group of insurance people, probably with potbellies, sitting
around a table and—guess what? They created a measurement for
determining an “ideal” weight for a person based on the height and
weight ratios of insured persons with the greatest lifespan. Two charts
were and still are generally used, one for those nineteen to thirty-four
and another for those thirty-five and older. People looked up their
height and age on these charts. The charts gave a range in which their
weights should fall, with the midpoint being that person’s “ideal.”
Over the years, health
researchers and nutrition professionals determined that the
height/weight chart measurements were not as accurate as they could be
and that these numbers did not take into account optimal body
composition, including fat distribution. Many people swore by the
numbers on the chart, but in fact these were not always the best
measurement of our population as a whole. Next time you see the chart,
check it out—because who can resist looking? Just remember to pause and
smile and know from whence it came.
Determining a Healthy Weight
Your personal healthy body
weight is a range for your particular body build that takes into
account total fat, muscle, bone, and water for your size. This weight
varies from person to person. Your ideal weight should be somewhere
between being in an underweight status and an overweight status. In
other words—not too fat, not too thin, but just right!
Healthy Weight versus Normal/Ideal Weight. Today, standards regarding weight have changed. Many health professionals prefer to use the term healthy weight rather than referring to one’s “normal” or “ideal” weight. A healthy
weight depends on a number of factors—age, gender, height, and frame or
body size. You may say “normal,” I say “healthy,” and others say
“ideal.” I really don’t care which term works for you. Just work with me
to help you get there.
Charts created
recently are more accurate because they take into account total body
composition: muscles, bone, fat, and all that good stuff. They provide
ranges of numbers that are appropriate for individuals, rather than just
a single number. Because no one person stays at the same weight for
their entire life, and because bodies change over the years, no one
weight is standard for a person during his or her entire life.
Healthy Weight Ranges for Adults. One
established chart helps individuals determine a “healthy weight range”
for themselves. This chart takes a range of numbers into account, not
just a single one, thereby allowing higher numbers for those people with
larger body builds and greater amounts of muscle and bone. This chart
is also useful for all adult age groups. While it is believed that
people put on weight as they age, this weight gain should remain within
the allowable range for height.
