Ah, the scale; most peoples’ long-standing foe. It is hard to trawl social media, or any media for that matter (written or visual) without encountering a subliminal, or overt, message to lose weight. But, is the equation of health with thinness actually steeped in fact, or an assumption that has been perpetuated for far too long?
Weight loss has long been associated with happiness, success and confidence whilst ‘being fat’ has historically been associated with laziness, gluttony and greediness. In Western society, thin body ideals have become embedded in our collective consciousness as an aspirational thing; a thing of beauty. And if not thinness, then at the very least fitness (#fitspo). We generally correlate the mainstream projection of fitness (think abs, muscles, leanness) with health and this is not necessarily a fair assumption.
A 2012 study identified that healthy habits are a better indicator of health than weight, which kind of flushes 100s of years of diet culture down the drain1. It was identified that people who had consistently ‘healthy’ lifestyle habits had a reduced risk of mortality1. These included exercising regularly (more than 12 times per month), a diet rich in fruits and vegetables (at least 5 serves per day), moderate alcohol intake and not smoking tobacco1. Some participants lost weight by virtue of their overall lifestyle improvements, but others did not lose weight, with their risk of mortality still decreasing1.
These findings have been reinforced in later studies, emphasising that focusing on weight loss isn’t necessarily beneficial2. We also know that the constant pressure on people to lose weight is incredibly damaging for peoples’ self-esteem, relationship with food and their bodies, as well as mental health3. Men and women of all shapes, sizes and colours alike feel this extrinsic pressure to achieve a certain body weight that places them within the ‘healthy weight range’, defined by the Body Mass Index (BMI). However, we also know that the ratio of fat to muscle tissue is a better indicator of health than BMI, as well as how people feel, their energy levels, functional status and waist circumference. The BMI is not applicable to elite athletes, the elderly, people with eating disorders (such as anorexia nervosa), pregnant women and people who are not Caucasian4. Therefore, it only applies to a very small portion of the population and should be taken with a grain of salt.
Health is a complex aspect of our lives that cannot be measured merely with one index. By purely focusing on weight loss, we are missing opportunities to discuss other, more dynamic aspects of health. Indeed, behaviour change and moving towards engaging in healthier lifestyle habits is likely a far better measurement of health status and mortality risk. By shifting the dialogue to lifestyle habits and away from weight, we are able to truly focus on all aspects of health, including mental, physical and social.
If you would like further information or a consultation with Carly, please call the practice on 9439 6776.
References:
- Matheson E, King D, Everett C. Healthy Lifestyle Habits and Mortality in Overweight and Obese Individuals. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. 2012;25(1):9-15.
- Bombak A. Obesity, Health at Every Size, and Public Health Policy. American Journal of Public Health. 2014;104(2):e60-e67.
- Tamhane, Neha M., “The Role of Body Image, Dieting, Self-Esteem and Binge Eating in Health Behaviors” (2017). Masters Theses. 2922. https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/2922
- Coulman K, Sauchelli Toran S. Body mass index may not be the best indicator of our health – how can we improve it? [Internet]. The Conversation. 2020 [cited 8 August 2020]. Available from: https://theconversation.com/body-mass-index-may-not-be-the-best-indicator-of-our-health-how-can-we-improve-it-143155