The Truth and Nothing But the Truth about Obesity

Monday, 02 July 2007 10:29

Recently, while traveling with my husband to New York City to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary, I decided to catch up on some fun reading.

The January, 2007 edition of Glamour was first on the list. As I flipped through the pages, two articles caught my eye. The first was an interview featuring Tony Award winner Sara Ramirez, a star on the hit TV show Grey’s Anatomy; and, the second was a fourteen page health handbook spread on getting to your healthiest weight.

Sara’s article, titled, ‘I’m a size 12 in a size 0 town’, was quite good. I admire her talent and certainly enjoy her acting chops as Dr. Callie Torres on one of my favorite shows. I felt that this article was realistic when it comes to body image, dieting, and attitudes.

The healthy weight article, however, left me confused. I could only imagine the problems that misinformation causes to those struggling with obesity. The article featured pictures of several women of all sizes in their twenties, thirties, and forties. They posed in underwear with captions that gave their weight, height, age and a catchy, uplifting quote, making it feel like its okay to be overweight or obese. The article claimed it was a diet-free guide and gave the reader 12 interesting steps to take to get to the right weight. I guess if it was that was all it took, we would be at our correct weight, right? I did like the personal weight worksheet that walked you through calculating your body mass index (BMI) and how to determine your calorie needs based on your metabolism.

The section on waist size hit on the newest information out there, that a waist greater than 35 inches poses huge medical risks such as diabetes and heart disease. The section on weight loss surgery did not touch on the alternatives available in regards to bariatric procedures. It only focused on gastric bypass surgery, and not necessarily in a good way. There was no mention of the Gastric Lap Band procedure that is less invasive, carrying a much lower complication rate, for example. There was no mention of obesity being a disease and that it’s complex and not easy and that all surgical options should be explored.

What gives with this kind of direction? Wait, I am not done.On the way home from the fun filled weekend, I decided to read the 20th Annual Hot List in Entrepreneur magazine. Lo and behold, on the list is Plus-Size Products. Mentioned is the fact that the average woman is between a size 12 and 16 and that 30% of the population is obese. The Plus size clothing market alone reached $32 billion in 2005. This article spoke to marketing to children and babies! Also, the article suggested that entrepreneurs look to caskets, furniture, baby seats and bath towels as products to sell to this booming group. One second you feel that big is okay, the next you are taken into the world of heavy is unhealthy.

There’s no question that American entrepreneurs have picked up on the fact that obesity is a huge market. They will educate us about the downsides of obesity, but at the same time they will take your money on all the products and services targeted to the obese market. But what is true information and what is not?There has to be better information out there for those that are obese. When this happens, better decisions can be made. Also, perceptions about obese people can be turned around. A great example of a wrong perception occurred just a month ago. A friend of mine, after learning what I am doing now for a living, said to me, “If I can quit smoking, people can lose weight.” Really? I don’t think so.

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