Weight loss, weight gain, exercise, diet…the subject of staying in shape has become a huge aspect of most people’s daily lives. The pressure to be thin becomes more and more pressing by the day. You can tell just by looking at Hollywood. Many celebs either lose weight soon after getting famous or succumb to the pressure a bit later on. Kelly Osbourne, Jennifer Hudson, Nicole Richie and Khloe Kardashian are just a few examples. Sometimes it’s a healthy choice. Jennifer Hudson, for example, looks amazing. Look at Star Jones! Mo’Nique also lost a great deal of weight. Other times it isn’t such a healthy choice…I’ll leave names out of that one. But how are we supposed to know the difference?
A doctor will probably have you check your BMI (Body Mass Index) to determine if you have a healthy weight. A healthy BMI is from 18.5 to 25. Twenty-five to thirty is overweight and over 30 is obese. I have an issue with this system. The BMI system is based on weight and height alone. Everyone who is 5’2, as an example, does not have the same body type. So why are they lumped into one standard of what their weight should be. Granted, the system does leave room for differentiations (someone who is 5’2 can be from 101-136 lbs. to be considered normal), but I’m not sure it’s enough. I knew a girl who was 5’5 and 172 pounds. According to the BMI system she was overweight and getting close to the obese category. When you looked at her she looked like a regular girl. She did have extra pounds but she didn’t look too overweight. I wouldn’t have guessed her BMI was so high. Another girl I know is 5’5 and 155 pounds. Most people I see on a regular basis are about her size. She is what I see as normal but her BMI crosses into overweight as well. I had a friend once who lost some weight (she was already skinny) and her mother actually started worrying for her health….but if you checked her BMI she was in the normal category. I think something’s wrong with this.
I’m not saying we should completely ignore our doctors and BMI. They are both helpful tools that can keep you healthy. Nevertheless, if your BMI is 25-30 (overweight range) I don’t think there’s a need to panic. If you look in the mirror and like what you see, don’t stress it. That said, let me add that we should all try our best to stay healthy. Mo’Nique once said she was inspired to lose weight because her husband said she had gained too much to be healthy. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her and didn’t want it shortened by avoidable health issues. When weight gain gets to that point then, in my opinion, fast action should definitely be taken. My point is: don’t let a BMI calculator or statistic get you down. Do what’s healthy and comfortable for you.
Related articles
- What is BMI? (healthnews.ediets.com)
RISA LLANAH 