Health Versus Weight
The reality of the world we live in is that most people would prefer to be thin. This is a concept perpetuated by the media, but also by the healthcare industry. The general thought is that the size of your body is an indication of the health of your body, but often this is simply not the case. It is quite possible for a “healthy weight” individual to experience health issues, just as it is possible for an “overweight” or “obese” individual to be completely healthy.
There are of course health consequences with being extremely underweight or extremely overweight, but most people fall somewhere in the middle. And when it comes down to it, the health risks brought on by being overweight typically have more to do with the reasons for the weight gain (diet, lack of exercise, genetics) than the weight itself.
The real focus of health should be on healthy behaviours. Rather than setting a goal of weight loss, how about setting a goal to eat better, to exercise more, to better manage the stress in your life, to focus on getting a good night’s sleep or to do more things that truly make you happy? And instead of doing these things to be thin, focus on how they will help to improve your mood, extend your life, improve the quality of your life, give you more energy, and allow you to spend more time with family and friends. Often weight loss will be a side effect of these healthy behaviours, but if it’s not, it certainly doesn’t mean you aren’t reaping other health benefits.
For example, eating healthy and exercising can offer a variety of important health benefits for those categorized as overweight or obese, even in the face of little or no weight loss:
- Improved blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity
- Decreased blood pressure
- Improved cholesterol profile
- Healthier blood vessels
- Increased anti-inflammatory markers
- Increased fat oxidation
- Improved mood, body image, and self-esteem
If you are eating well and exercising regularly but not losing weight, should you give it all up? Of course not! But unfortunately, focusing on weight as the main marker of health encourages people to do just that – give up all the healthy behaviours they’ve adopted.
The Dangers Of A Weight Loss Focus
Focusing on weight loss as the most important marker of health serves only to address the symptom of weight and not the actual true causes of poor health. If you are overweight and experiencing health issues, there may be many reasons that brought you to that point. Diet and exercise may play a major role, as could genetics, your work and social life, even your socioeconomic status. The reasons why your diet and exercise habits are poor are also important. Perhaps your home life doesn’t allow much free time for exercise or meal prep, or maybe you don’t have the food knowledge or cooking skills to prepare healthy meals yourself. Without discovering the root causes of your health challenges there is little chance of overcoming them, and the focus on weight can simply mask other health issues that need to be addressed.
Other dangers of focusing on weight can:
- Promote unhealthy and extreme fad diets and exercise regimens.
- Lead to weight cycling (repeatedly losing and regaining weight), which further increases disease risk and makes future weight loss efforts even harder.
- Promotes unhealthy relationships with food, which can develop into eating disorders.
- Encourages the social stigma and discrimination against those who are considered overweight and obese, which can further impact an individual’s physical and mental health.
- Using BMI as a marker of weight has its flaws, especially for certain body types. It may over- or underestimate an individual’s health risk and also does not take nutritional intake into account.
Remember, you can be at a healthy weight yet still experience health issues. There are many people who remain thin despite a poor diet, lack of exercise, stressful life, and poor sleep. Likewise, there are many people who are considered overweight or obese who eat well, exercise regularly, and take care of all aspects of their health.
Achieving true health means taking your physical, nutritional, emotional, and mental well-being into consideration.
For some healthy eating inspiration, take a look at the Horizon Recipe Booklet for on the go breakfasts and easy at works lunches!
