8 Basic rules to be learned for living happily in any body size

Body weight between ideal and reality

Body weight is a complicated variable in human existence that drastically affects the lives of individuals in society.

By birth, each individual inherits a genetic dowry that will outline his body type according to his ancestors.

From this point of view nothing can be changed at this stage.

The next period of each individual’s life, childhood, will further shape the body type depending on the culture and way of life of the family in which it is born.

Thus, it seems that some are born lucky to have a certain body type and a metabolic rate that makes them winners from the start.

 About the structure of the human body, types, models and BMI.

In 1940 William H. Sheldon identifies 3 types of bodies depending on skeletal size, muscle mass, and predisposition to easily accumulate fat deposits as follow:

1.Ectomorphs, figures with long and thin bones, low muscle mass and a high metabolic rate, which makes it difficult to gain weight.

2.Endomorphs, more square figures, with a lot of muscle mass and which easily gain weight through fat deposits.

3.Mesomorphs, athletic figures with strong bones, beautifully proportioned muscle mass, and a good metabolic rate that helps them easily control their weight in relation to diet.

A combination of the first and second categories generates a pear-shaped subcategory with a thinner upper body and a predisposition to fat deposits on the hips and thighs.

The combination of the first and third categories generates an apple-shaped body subtype with a predisposition to fat deposits in the upper and middle part of the body and with thin hips, thighs, and legs.

The BMI, Body Mass Index, also called the Quetelet Index (its inventor), the body mass index was developed in the 19th century.
It is calculated by dividing the weight (in kilograms) by the square’s height (in meters).

BMI is very useful in assessing body weight, but it is incomplete and far too limited.

The quality of the body weight is what gives a much more complete picture.

The weight of the human body is the sum of the weights of bone mass, muscle mass, water mass and fat mass.

Their proportion, type and location give a much clearer picture of a healthy human body than BMI alone.

Debating the health risks associated with high body weight

The idea of ​​the link between obesity and a number of diseases is already ingrained in the medical world. When we show up at a doctor’s office, we are weighed, measured, and given basic tests, after which in many cases we are told that we suffer from a metabolic syndrome that exposes us to the risk of more complex diseases such as diabetes. , cardiovascular disease, cancer, etc.

In this way, we tend to understand that obesity is the cause of all these diseases and the first measure that is required is the immediate need to lose weight to avoid all these threats.

This creates pressure and stress on us and if the results of diets and exercises do not give the expected results this stress will be even greater. The effect of this stress can be major for some individuals and can cause many long-term health problems. Fear of illness and loss of self-confidence can easily lead to depression, isolation, and many other conditions. Repeated diets, even successful ones, may lead to disorders such as bulimia and hyperphagia.

Don’t we turn here in a vicious circle that should be interrupted by a different approach?

There are brave voices in the medical world today who are trying to find this type of approach by questioning whether obesity is a defense of the body to other metabolic dysfunctions?

And if so, where should it be intervened?

Very interesting from this point of view this video: Peter Attia: Is the obesity crisis hiding a bigger problem?

Perception in society and marginalization of overweight people

A wrong approach to bodyweight variable in society in general and in medical and social services creates problems that affect the well-being of overweight individuals.

It creates, perhaps falsely, the impression that obesity is a result of indifference, laziness, lack of education and indolence which is far from the truth.

The hypothesis that obesity is rather an effect of dysfunctions of the body before being a cause for other medical problems should prevail and from this point, there should be a major change in the way it is approached.

The need for a different approach to medical services for overweight people

“Overweight and obesity is a highly stigmatized condition. Many people, including healthcare practitioners, have negative attitudes and beliefs about people with overweight and obesity.  Weight stigma in healthcare can prevent healthcare professionals from having supportive and non-judgemental consultations with patients, which can result in a lack of diagnosis and low efficacy of interventions for weight management. Experiences of judgment and shame in the healthcare setting prevent people with obesity from seeking help. Weight stigma can also lead to the under-recognition and under-management of symptoms of eating disorders.  Stigmatization is associated with greater psychological distress and can cause people to engage in behaviors that make obesity worse.

The complex nature of obesity requires that the health services take a holistic, integrated approach to identification, early intervention and treatment.  Actively managing overweight and obesity will improve health, quality of life and overall mortality while reducing healthcare costs.”

From <https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/cspd/ncps/obesity/national-obesity-clinical-programme.html>

This is the first step towards a different approach, but much more work and research is needed to accurately identify the cause of obesity to effectively combat it and to avoid social discrimination and in providing medical care to those affected

Basic rules to be learned for living happily in any body size.

1. Learn to love and respect your body regardless of size

2. There are very beautiful individuals even if they are more chubby

3. There are ugly individuals even if they have standard weight

4. There are perfectly healthy individuals even if they have too much body weight

5. There are individuals with multiple medical problems even if they have the ideal weight.

6. Being overweight should not make you feel in the minority, statistics say that the world’s population is overweight rather than the ideal weight

7. A healthy lifestyle is more important than a long line of drastic diets, regardless of weight. In this way, the weight could be restored naturally to a point where the individual feels comfortable

8.Quality and human value are not measured in kilograms.