Headed Toward Healthy-Weight? Prepare To Be Judged

You are the ODDBALL if you are healthy-weight!

Can you imagine what might be said to the presumed daughter in this picture if she started moving seriously toward a healthy weight?
It’s nothing new when I say a double standard exists and HAS existed regarding the seemingly “okay” aspect of overweight people commenting, judging, criticizing and offering-advice to the non-overweight BUT don’t you DARE do the same if you are healthy-weight.
I’ve been telling clients for a couple years now that ONE of the reasons this is more prevalent than ever is there are simply SO many overweight people now that being healthy-weight puts you in a minority the likes of which we’ve never seen before. With 66% of Americans overweight and a third of Americans obese (BMI 30 or greater) you are the ODDBALL if you are healthy-weight! You’re the oddball if you’re even headed toward healthy weight.
Click Here to Calculate Your BMI
If you are healthy-weight and your BMI is between 19 and 24.9 then you really have quite a few science-based legs to stand on regarding BEING at a healthy weight. Most medical professionals would NOT classify you as “too skinny” if your BMI is 19-24.9 BUT your cousin, brother or mother may not hesitate to tell you just that. Most medical professionals would not ask “Are you done losing?” if your BMI is 22-24.9 – BUT your friend, sister or co-worker just might. Not only might they? But if they do they will feel incredibly justified in doing so.
It really pisses those striving for healthy-weight off. Therein lies the double standard. Don’t you DARE ask the overweight if they are REALLY going to eat that 10th piece of pizza. Don’t you DARE ask the overweight if they are SERIOUSLY going to keep gaining weight.
Some recent research sheds a little light on ONE of the reasons the overweight may feel justified in judging you — the healthy-weight or the striver of healthy-weight. THEY MISTAKENLY BELIEVE THEY ARE AT A HEALTHY WEIGHT. But this misperception isn’t limited to the overweight. Nope. The healthy-weight people mistakenly believe they are overweight many times.
A startling number of overweight and normal weight women of reproductive age inaccurately perceive their body weight, affecting their weight-related behaviors and making many vulnerable to cardiovascular and other obesity-related diseases, according to new research from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston.
“What we found reflects the ‘fattening’ of America,” says corresponding author Dr. Mahbubur Rahman, assistant professor Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women’s Health. “As obesity numbers climb, many women identify overweight as normal, not based on the scale but on how they view themselves.”
The more Americans there are who are overweight the more “normal” it gets. Therefore, if you are at a healthy-weight according to BMI you can expect to be looked upon as different, odd, radical or extreme. It’s unbelievable – but true. The more “normal” overweight becomes the more “normal” people will describe themselves as it relates to their weight and health. This is what has the researchers concerned. Being overweight is one factor to consider – not the end-all be-all for ascertaining fitness or longevity risks – but it IS a significant factor that can increase disease and early-death risks.
When there are so many overweight people, like there is now, that it makes it difficult for average Joe or Jane to see they are overweight? We increase the current and future load on our healthcare system, we shorten lifespans, and we lower quality of life during the time we have on earth.
If you have achieved the healthy-weight 19-24.9 BMI? Or if you are headed there and getting close? Or if you are still 50 pounds overweight but your family and friends are 150 pounds overweight? I just want to continue to encourage you to do what you know is right in spite of the ignorant “normal” overweight people who feel justified in telling you exactly what they think about your present level of healthy leanness.
In health,
David Greenwalt – Founder
Certified Wellness Coach (ACSM)
Leanness Lifestyle University