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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2005)
1 8 just out ’ October 21.2005 BMI: B ody M isinformation ? AUTOMOTIVE Index doesn't assess any subjective information ody Mass Index is a hot topic in the medical and fitness world and one that has seen renewed popu larity in the past few years. BMI is defined as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. Like many people involved in health and wellness, 1 have my opinions about its validity, considering it doesn’t assess any subjective information. I’ve repeatedly seen people, without ques tioning rhe common sense of one-size-fits-all, attempt to fit themselves into the BMI box with disastrous results. We all have individual body types and genetic destinies. My training experi ence has taught me that people of all sizes, no matter where they may fall on the BMI scale, feel that they have weight to lose. What does this say about our society, and how does this contribute to size oppression? of life” scale? Our question for this issue comes I personally have never seen direct evidence from a community member struggling with leading me to believe that 10 pounds of “extra these issues: padding” ever killed anybody. Let’s face it: A lot of Americans are out of shape. Sedentary D ear E thel : lifestyles, coupled with inadequate nutrition, are I’m feeling under attack -by all the news a bigger target for rhe pointed finger. And smok articles about obesity and Americans, combined ing—I’m an ex-smoker, and I lost my dad to lung with the current HMO mass media campaigns cancer. There is no doubt that smoking forces us promoting wellness and fitness and healthy into an early grave, but what about rhe theft of lifestyles. I do want to be healthy, but can goals our ability to be an active life participant? It’s born of shame and guilt ever succeed! Should I painful for me to see a 23-year-old huffing and climb the mountaintop to search for a deeper puffing after climbing one set of stairs, knowing meaning to health goals? Unfortunately, I’m too that at one time, I made that same choice. out of shape to even climb a metaphorical moun- I’ve spent a fair amount of time in San tain. What should I do! Francisco, strolling past the eye candy in the “fishbowl” gyms located in the Castro. The No, goals bom of shame and guilt will not fetishization of the hypermasculine physique help you succeed. Connecting shame and guilt and the privilege it creates in our society and to an exercise program is sabotage. in gay culture propagates We all have to take an infatuation with form responsibility for the types over function. Perfect of mass media we let influ men, seeking PNP, provide ence lives and our deci My training experience the contradiction. sions. Is the information San Francisco’s Lesbian you’re referring to based has taught me that Health Research Center on fact, or popular televi people of all sizes, no has jumped on the BMI sion shows? Tune out the bandwagon. I have a well-, mass media as well as you matter where they known aversion to vegeta can, and ask yourself what bles, but I begrudgingly eat your body and your life may fall on the BMI them. Thanks to the cen would look like if you paid scale, feel that they ter’s Web site, I now know greater attention to what that it’s because I’m a life you ate, got adequate rest, have weight to lose. time lesbian. Could I have eliminated excess stress been straight if I had eaten and spent 30 to 60 minutes more spinach? a day being active in a way I recently observed an you truly enjoyed. Then, HMO nutritional assistance class hosted by a imagine your life after six months of consistent wonderful gay man. Though I appreciated his ly living this w’ay! message greatly, the literature provided exercis Create your own version of good health, es that no person of size could ever do. Why and respect your individuality. If you belong to aren’t health organizations being constructive i an HMO, find practitioners who don’t play with their criticisms by reaching out and offer the BMI tape, and demand reasonable solu ing a realistic place to begin for all people? tions to the obstacles you face. They are paid There are amazing preventative health ben to help you. efits to a regular exercise program that are often You sound like you’d be a great candidate for beat out as goals by the seemingly endless race personal training. One-on-one or small-group for the loss of a few pounds. Some clients seem training would help you focus on what’s before to think that life will begin after they lose you and help increase your confidence. Find a weight. As someone invested in improving the trainer who listens and will help you achieve the quality of your life, my question is, what are you goals you’ve chosen for yourself. waiting for? Interesting reading: www.obesitymyth. If you’ve stayed away from exercise facilities com/excerpt. JF1 because you felt it was for fitter, straighter peo ple, it’s not your imagination. It’s possible to Information in this column should not be used begin exercising and improve your health in place of advice from a licensed health care regardless of what your level of fitness may be professional. If you don’t see the question or today, but currently, you’ll have to be creative. answer you’re looking for, e-mail D ear ETHEL Right now, how do you rate on the “quality at maria@etheldiesels .com. 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