Lesson 3.08 Body Size and Weight Management

We live in a seemingly contradictory time in history when it comes to body size and weight management. At a time when our nationwide food supply has actually reached a point of abundance and not subject to the whims of nature in a person's small geographical area, we find that we are living in a country that idolizes and imitates the slim body size. Whereas overweight body size was once associated as a measure of a person's wealth and ability to afford more than adequate food, fat intolerance has now become one of the last socially accepted prejudices.

Meanwhile, the same advertising media that presents us with these ultrathin images also highly promotes food and beverages that are high in sugar, calories, and fats to all age groups.

 

→ »

Judging your total body wellness and health by a single number on a scale or a day's calorie count is not the whole story. People, especially women, have become obsessed with body size and dieting to the point of developing eating disorders which are harmful to their health.

Aspects of wellness involved are the physical dimension of maintaining adequate levels of body fat or leanness. Intellectual and emotional wellness is needed to understand and evaluate the society messages we are given toward our natural body size, changes in it over the human life span, and thus develop a life-long positive body image. Social wellness dimensions involve surrounding yourself with people who accept the range of human body size and focus more on the inner personal qualities.

← → »

From your study of the energy-producing nutrients of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in Unit 3, it would seem that the simplest approach to weight management would be either increasing or decreasing your daily intake of food containing these nutrients. Unfortunately for us today, our human body has evolved into a much more complex system. This lesson will discuss the many factors that play into personal body size.

Incidence of obesity in the US and worldwide has increased dramatically in the last fifty years. As our world becomes more economically developed and food supply/distribution is increased, often healthier traditional diets are being replaced by highly processed foods high in fat and calories. Products like Coca-Cola and McDonald's are found worldwide. Developing countries that usually have dealt with the problem of malnutrition will also be struggling with the diseases of over-nutrition.

• Approximately one third of Americans older than age twenty meet the Body Mass Index (BMI) criteria for mildly obese to obese.

• The incidence of overweight children and adolescents has increased sharply in a twenty-year span from six percent to sixteen percent. Obese children often become obese adults and can develop formerly adult diseases like Type II Diabetes.

 

« ← →

Developing healthy nutrition and wellness habits throughout your lifetime are the building blocks to having good personal body size acceptance and weight management.

« ←