The "Skinny" Truth

As a retail dietitian, I've noticed over the years that clients and customers are obsessed with weight. By definition, the weight of an object only refers to the numerical value of its gravitational pull;  even though this number would be strikingly different depending on which planet we were on, it somehow has the power to either make a person on earth feel "great" and "beautiful;" or "frustrated" and "worthless."

In my current job, I conduct biometric screenings for employees and customers.  While this simple fingerstick gives a good snapshot on a person's internal health - cholesterol, blood sugar, triglycerides, etc. -  I've recently become more aware of people's fear with the scale.  I often hear "This is the part I've been dreading!"  or "I've been really bad this week, I just know I've gained 'xyz' pounds!"  I never say this aloud, but when I hear these phrases I always think "I just poked your finger with a sharp needle, but manually stepping on a scale is what you're AFRAID of!?"  Sounds silly when you think of it this way, but with our society being very superficial, we're trained to "fear" some very superficial things.

For me and in my profession, weight is like a double-edged sword:
      *As a dietitian: my philosophy is to shift the focus away from weight and concentrate more on
       lifestyle factors, physical activity, and how a person "feels" to gauge health.  
                                                    ............buuuuuuttttt............
     *As a female and someone who has struggled with food and body image issues in the past: I
       totally get it. I empathize with people's struggle with food and body image; because I've been
       there.

A person's outside appearance and body weight is something society is completely fixated on...and honestly, it sucks.  Weight somehow has this pull on how we perceive ourselves when in reality that doesn't make sense.  You can't really "feel fat" or "feel skinny"...(i.e. fat isn't a verb)....yet we hear people say those things ALL. THE. TIME.  When I was pregnant and my husband and I found out we were having a boy, I was happy for two reasons.  For one, I'm not a girly girl, and a boy just fits our personalities well. And two, I am honestly terrified to raise a girl in today's day and age where her self worth is based upon such idiotic principles as her looks.  While I know body image issues can affect boys just as much as girls, I do think there is still a double standard of beauty that women have to live up to.

So what's the "skinny" truth?  While this problem is much bigger than you or myself, there are a few small steps we all can take to raise our daughters and sons in healthier body-positive environments:


          1.  Stop focusing on weight.  Weight can fluctuate day-to-day, even hour to hour.  If you eat a meal and step onto a scale, OF COURSE your weight will be higher than normal!  (It would be the same as you stepping onto a scale with the plate of food you just consumed). 
**It's also important to note that as kids are continuously growing and changing, don't put so much emphasis on their weight either.  Especially during puberty, body composition, weight and BMI [body mass index] are constantly changing.   
          My general rule of thumb is to avoid the scale all-together; if you do find yourself weighing                 frequently, ask the questions "Will knowing this number affect my attitude, mood, or self-
          esteem?" and "What am I truly looking for when I step onto the scale?"  The answer to these
          may give you insight on whether you are zoning in too much on that number.

          2.  FOOD = FUEL.  There is no such thing as a "good" or "bad" food.  All food provides calories (energy) which we need to function; and all food has different ranges of nutrition content.  A healthy intake requires a variety of foods/food groups.  While it's true that only eating fried or processed foods is not considered healthy, neither is surviving on fruits and veggies alone.  Every food group (including fat and carbohydrates)! has a purpose.

          3.  Watch what you say.  I'm learning more and more each day that our kids pick up on every little habit we have, big or small.  If you are constantly dieting, or looking in the mirror and judging your appearance, your kids will most likely notice. 

**I also think it's important to steer clear from appearance-based compliments.  "You look so skinny!"  or "You've lost so much weight!"  may sound harmless, but you NEVER know what that person may be going through.  There are many health issues where weight loss is NOT ideal:  stress, anxiety, depression, cancer, an eating disorder, cystic fibrosis...just to name a few.  Also refrain from commenting on a person's food choices.  I have employees, customers and even friends comment on what I'm eating all the time.  I'm either eating "too healthy" or "not following portion control" like I "should", whatever that means ;)  As a dietitian people tend to judge and interrogate what you're eating (thinking we do the same).  I promise that regardless of what you may  have heard, dietitians are not the food police!  We can enjoy chocolate and donuts and french fries just like the next person....all in moderation of course!

          4.    (And I think the most important):  Skinny DOES NOT = Healthy.   I can't stress this one enough.  We are so quick to judge a person's health based on their waist size, when that gives almost NO indicator on actual health.  ZERO. ZILCH.  NADA.  A person can have a BMI within the "normal" range and still suffer from high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, etc....while a person with and "overweight" or "obese" BMI may be in good health if they are physically active and consume a moderately healthy diet.  We shouldn't judge a book by its cover, nor should we judge human beings that way. 

Below is a drawing I keep displayed in my office; it is a picture an employee created after learning about intuitive eating in a 10-week nutrition class I offer.  Below it reads "Make Peace with Food." 

I love it because I think it's a great reminder; even dietitians need positive images to reflect on every once in awhile. 

Hopefully these tips (or even this drawing!) can serve you, too, as a reminder to make peace with food, (or your body image, your mind, your stresses)....or whatever it is that keeps you from living your life to the fullest.