Anyone Define Overweight?
A press release from the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that the number of overweight or obese people in the world will rise by 50% over the next decade. That's huge. However the whole article has an unnerving sense of hysteria about it.
"The sheer magnitude of the overweight and obesity problem is staggering," said Catherine Le Gales-Camus, the head of the WHO's noncommunicable diseases and mental health division, in a statement.
I'm not implying that obesity and high body fat levels are not a health issue - they are. But what about that word "overweight"? Who decides that?
Apparently (according to a UN Health Agency) "more than 75 percent of women over the age of 30 are now overweight in countries as diverse as Barbados, Egypt, Malta, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, and the United States". This means that just 25% are considered to be a "normal" weight. It feels like the goal posts have been moved.
The WHO uses a standard BMI measurement as the criteria for being overweight. A BMI equal to or more than 25 is considered overweight. 30 or over is considered obese. Personally I think this is low - anyone who does any weight training might well agree with this.
This wasn't always so.
What many people don't know is that the definition of overweight changed in 1998. Up until this point a BMI of 27.8 for men, and 27.3 for women was the starting point for being overweight (see a complete discussion of this in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition).
At risk of sounding like a crackpot conspiracy theorist... I do wonder if the pharmaceutical industry had anything to do with this. This is complete conjecture - but when you see the kind of revenue made by some of these companies - somehow their motives don't seem so altruistic.
There is a feature in the Seattle Times that writes these words (regarding the definition of obesity):
May 1996 – An international group of obesity experts, with financial backing from drug companies, works to “convince WHO that obesity had become a global issue that could be ignored no longer.” At WHO headquarters in Geneva, they lay the groundwork for an official definition of obesity based on BMI. Task-force members include doctors who are heading clinical trials of weight-loss drugs
This doesn't suprise me at all.
Drug companies play a large role in "creating" diseases as well as changing the definitions and criteria of existing diseases to make more people believe they are sick, all in the name of profits. Changing the BMI values was a simple way to get more people to visit their doctor or pharmacist.
ReplyThe journal article linked to does not quite support the claim made in the blog entry that the definition of "overweight" was abruptly changed and moved downward to a lower weight in 1998. A close reading (and I admit it's dense going) shows that there were various standards used for various specific purposes, and they made an attempt to merge them all. The effort was international, not just the U.S. The "BMI" that preceded the current BMI was computed in a completely different way, raising the height in meters to the power 1.5, not 2 (for women, at least), so it can hardly be compared.
A BMI of 27.8 is not overweight, huh? For the vast bulk of men with a BMI of 27.8, their waist measurement will exceed their hip measurement. Actually, for most casual weightlifters, the same can be said.
ReplyI agree with the sentiment of this blog.
The focus is way to high on the "obesity epidemic" instead of focusing on getting people to simply follow healthy diet and lifestyle habits.
The pharmaceutical industry shoulders a huge portion of the blame by promoting the "magic bullet" approach to weight loss.
"Take this magic pill and you'll lose weight or it'll remove the symptoms of this disease."
If the trend of declining diet and lifestyle habits continues (sedentary lifestyle, processed food, stressful lifestyles etc etc) then the already overtaxed health systems in the western world will find it almost impossible to cope with the now ageing population of baby boomers.
Hence the somewhat justified media hysteria.
But there's no need for hysteria.
Just follow good, common sense diet and lifestyle principles and the number one principle is...
Eat low glycemic fruit and vegetables for carbohydrates.
Stop eating garbage.
"No one ever got fat eating broccoli."
Kindest regards,
Andrew Cavanagh (AMWA)
P.S. If you want a little free audio and a cartoon illustrated article on low glycemic carbohydrates check out...
Replyhttp://lowglycemiccarbohydrates.50webs.com
Anytime the corrupt medical community wants to create or increase its revenue, they lower the threshold as to what is "normal".
It's happened with cholesterol levels, blood pressure readings and the oft cited BMI tables that are all over the internet and used to get people to sign up for an online diet program.
People can have a "normal" BMI number and still be fat and unfit and they can also be in the obese category and be well muscled and in excellent health.
A person's body fat percentage and overall health and fitness would be better criteria to use to determine if someone is actually overweight or obese.
ReplyI agree with Mike. Body fat level, cardiovascular fitness, fasting blood sugar levels, etc., are better indicators of disease risk than a number on a scale. A lot of athletes are at a normal-to-high BMI but have very low body fat, whereas some people (typically Asian women) are at a normal-to-low BMI and are actually over-fat.
ReplyYes - you are exactly right. Some people groups do have low muscle mass, and whilst still having normal BMI levels they are overfat.
I'm amazed that all major health organizations rely so heavily on BMI for health indicators.
ReplySometimes i wonder if i'm really underweight.
My BMI is 17.2, but i'm on the short side of average (5"4) and very small boned, of eastern european descent. At 110 lbs and a BMI of 19, i dont even have a waist. My stomach and love handles spill out everywhere. i dont look thin at all. i dont look hugely fat, but i end up looking about 5 months pregnant. i know its not just my perception, because i used to get unpleasant comments from others (friends, boyfriends, family members) so i just cant stand myself at that weight. i am not satisfied with my body until i'm at about 102 lbs (BMI 17.5) which sounds really really thin, and is technically anorexic, but on me it looks "right"....i dont look like a skeleton, i just look on the thin side of average. if i gain even 4 lbs, then i end up looking 3 months pregnant. i dont know why, and i worry that my current weight may be medically dangerous, but it doesnt feel that way. i average 1500-1600 calories a day to maintain this weight. i don't want to lose, just maintain. The BMI system scares me though. Could this weight just be natural for me, even though its underweight on the BMI chart? i think i just have a really high body fat percentage....
ReplyLana, you could be one of the "skinny-fat" among the population that is underweight but has too much body fat. I am in a similar situation to you. I am also 5'4" and small-boned, but I work out a lot and am almost solid muscle. According to BMI, I am just slightly underweight at 108 lbs, but I have only 10% body fat, which is very low for a woman. So, as I said...we are probably among those that BMI doesn't work well for. If you want to look thinner at a higher weight (which will be easier to maintain), exercise more (especially weight lifting) and eat a bit more. You should see an increase in weight and your size should stay the same if you are gaining muscle. Good luck :)
ReplyI think that it is alarming the sheer number of people that are seeking gastric bypass surgery as a means to lose weight. Granted for some individuals this may seem like the only way towards a healthier self. But, I think, it has become a trend. Doctors aren't treating the whole person. They aren't treating people with a "whole body" approach. The results of the surgery may be drastic but the side-effects last a lifetime. A healthy diet, exercise, emotional support, and/or coach may be able to help more individuals without risks. It's just a thought.
ReplyI am the same way! i am techinaclly a tad bit underweight at 5'1" 97 lbs., however I have a VERY petite bone frame, and am overfat, squishy, and I think actually have a body fat percentage around 25%, when 22 is actually desired for women. I work out a lot but seem to not be able to gain muscles!! It is very frustrating because people always tell me i am thin, etc., and i say "you haven't seen me naked" (ha ha). i just wish i could gain some muscle mass and lose some body fat!
ReplyMayla: Gaining muscle all comes down to eating right and lifting heavy. Nutrition is the biggest part though; training is second. If you train perfectly and eat poorly, you won't gain an ounce. However, if you eat perfectly and train poorly, you'll still make progress.
If you're the kind of person who takes 5 lb dumbbells and does bicep curls for 40 reps, you need to change your training techniques. Training for muscle should be hard; it should wipe you out. If you're doing exercises like squats or deadlifts, it may even send you to the bathroom to "bow down before the porcelain god".
However, this doesn't mean you train intensely all the time. You only lift enough to stimulate growth. After that, you let your body rest. In this time, it first repairs itself and then grows. Some people will only work each part of their body once every 7 or 8 days.
I can tell you more, but these are the most common things that women consistently resist doing. If you want to learn and are willing to change what you're doing, tell me.
ReplyReading your comments have been interesting. I, too, have struggled all my life with being ultra thin (I am 47, 5'5" and currently weigh 116). I can't remember what my BMI is but 2 yrs. ago it was well within the normal range. I am skinny & shapeless all over, but have always had a huge stomach - if I relax my abs I look pregnant and I have rolls of fat that I can gather in my hands. My hips/buttocks are saggy and flabby. I've had this problem all my life, even when I was a teen-ager and weighed only 95 lbs. Most people would give anything to be my size - I guess I'm fortunate that clothes can conceal the rolls of fat and flab on my skinny body. I'm sure my age and the fact that I've given birth 3 times contributes somehow. I think I keep my calorie intake to 2000 or less most days and I exercise 3x per week (aerobic for 30 min. and an hour on weights) but never see any change except perhaps a tiny bit of toning in my biceps and legs. It is frustrating to work so hard but not see any results. Perhaps I'm not lifting enough weight. I work my entire body and do 2 reps of 15 for each machine, and I put enough weight on to feel the burn. I cannot do really intense weight lifting due to arthritis and back/sciatica problems. I really want to get rid of the flabby stomach and hips/buttocks but don't know what to do. Any suggestions on how to help this skinny body lose the fat without losing weight? I don't really want to gain weight either, just get rid of the jiggles.
ReplyI am an active perswon, who has 30 pounds of baby weight on me, my youngest is 6mths and oldest is 2 years, I still look attractive and have no health problems whatsoever,why should I want to strive to look like the media says I should, plus I'm AA and it is known that our body types and bone structures are built larger, so what, I know what's healthy to eat and obviously what's not, so how should I feel when people try to make me feel fat because they dont like themselves, I just dont know.
ReplyThe BMI is just a loose guide line. It does not take into account your bone size or a fat to muscle ratio.
I'm like 2 points over my BMI but I think my bone size is small to med. And feel my best weight is around 192 to 198. But the BMI says I should be about 205. Currently my weight is 235, and yes I have some goals to lose weight, but I'm not going to beat myself up about it or or do the next fad.
Did you hear, Coke is testing a drink (tea) to help you losse weight. Yeah everyone wants some of the action.
ReplyI am 5ft and 110lbs. I know by no means am I overweight but I have a 34" pouch from having kids. I do crunches/situps etc but all that does is make it firmer, not smaller! Help me. I already eat a low carb diet and eat balanced nutritional meals as I am a diabetic also.
ReplySandra, weight training is probably the only thing that will help you. By building muscle all over your body, you will be able to burn fat. You are already on low-carb, so diet is not an issue, and you are small enough that weight loss is not really the goal. Like you've noticed, spot-reducing doesn't work, the only way to lose inches on the stomach is to reduce body fat overall.
ReplyMayla 25% body fat is fine for a female. 30% plus is overfat and 35% plus is obese. My body fat percentage is 25%, I'm 5ft2 and 125lb.
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