Post a Comment        E-mail To A Friend        Join The List

Body Images: Thin Is In No More

by Jillian Bowin
11/16/2007

Forget about hating that drop dead gorgeous celebrity with the killer body. Instead, put a little meat on those bones. You will be doing yourself a favor.

Skinny is beautiful; at least that is what the media would like for you to think. This idea created an obsession to achieve the “perfect body” and has led to weight loss products dominating the store shelves and infomercials.

With help from researchers, being overweight is not viewed in such a negative light anymore. Though obesity is not encouraged, there are benefits to maintaining a healthy, almost pudgy figure.

The four categories of weight – underweight, normal, overweight and obese – are based on the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is generated by a person’s weight and height. Overweight - 25 to 29.9 BMI - is suggested as the best body type.

Do not pack on the pounds, but do not beat yourself up about the dessert you decided to splurge on last night, either.

Although obese people are more likely to die from heart disease and cancer, underweight individuals are at a greater risk for the remaining leading causes of death and illness.

Since our society is more focused on outer appearance, much stress is placed on girls, specifically to be as thin as possible. It used to be considered a good thing when a woman looked “healthy” by having curves, not like a beanpole with legs, as the more recent ideal suggests.

Weight has always been associated with wealth, but a shift has occurred here as well. Now the wealthy hire personal chefs, trainers and nutritionists to keep them in top physical condition and the lower socioeconomic classes are generally heavier. Previously, you could identify the wealthy because they appeared "well fed."

So enjoy your holiday season. Go back for a full second helping at Thanksgiving. Savor the homemade Christmas cookies and other sweets. And try not to feel as guilty when you feel the sudden urge to undo the top button of your pants.

Name
Email
URL
Body
Are you human?