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.
B
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