Is this the face of obesity?
Yes, yes it is. I have plans to change that, but for today, I'm going to climb onto my soapbox & preach something I am extremely passionate about.
One third of Americans are obese, so out of three people in a room, chances are one of them is obese (to say nothing of the other third that are overweight). The problem is that we're not willing to acknowledge it. Skinnies & fatties alike want obesity to look like Danny (430 lbs), Michael (526 lbs), & Patrick (400 lbs). As the last three winners of "Biggest Loser," it is easy, comfortable & comforting to identify them as (formerly) obese. With that visual in our heads, we can feel safe that we are nothing like "those" people (said with all love because I have nothing but respect for those guys & their hard work!). It's the same feeling that you get watching "Springer:" I might be bad, but I'm not THAT bad. Truth is, I am that "bad."
I, in this picture, am obese. My BMI is 30. I am nearly 30 pounds outside of the upper limit of a healthy weight for my height. I am wearing a large sweater & size 14 pants. I am 178 lbs.
I, in this picture, am not ugly. I am not stupid. I am not dirty. I am not lazy. I am not deluded. I am not without self control.
If we can't see obesity for the precise problem that it is, we can't fix it. Obesity is not a character flaw, it is a serious medical condition, one that many suffer from whether they can acknowledge it or not. I am thankful that I have gotten to a place where I can see obesity for what it is & put myself in a position to correct it on a granular level. That is all that I can do.
Sermon finished.
You know? You make a valid point about how when we hear the word 'obese' we picture incredibly large, overweight people.
ReplyDeleteBut the truth is, I am classified as obese too (and what a shock it was when I realised). I am making steps to change that. And yet, when people see me, they can identify me as overweight, but are always shocked when I mention that I am obese. Just because I don't match the visual as pictured when obese is mentioned.
With that in mind, I keep encouraging people around me to rethink their activity and fitness levels, because many of them also fall into the catagory of obese. And I want them to enjoy healthy lives for as long as possible.