A Quarterly Newsletter

Who is trying to lose weight in American

by Tanya Zilberter, Ph.D.

According to the Committee with the long name "To Develop Criteria for Evaluating the Outcomes of Approaches to Prevent and Treat Obesity," tens of millions of people in the United States are dieting at any one time, regardless of the reason. The great American nation may be viewed as a nation consumed by a cycle of blame and guilt. This cycle, unhealthy a it is, also generates huge costs!

How much is it?

Up to $50 billion yearly is being spent in the effort to find solutions -- in spas and diet clubs, health food stores, or on drugstore shelves. These solutions, if they exist, are practically always transient. Add to this figure numerous funds to support scientific research, medical expenses including surgeries and prescription drugs, health care expenses corresponding to obesity and its consequences. The issue of weight turns out to be one of the most expensive issues of America's whole socioeconomic life.

Double Standard

First, you need to ask yourself why you want to lose weight. Chances are very high that your reason is out of the scope of health matters and is a matter of social pressure. The results of a survey conducted in Massachusetts by Dr. Sharelene Hesse-Biber have shown that:

• Only 23 percent of female college students were under the influence of medical standards.
• A shocking 77 percent were influenced by cultural standards.
• There were two quite different standards, with cultural expectations being an average of twenty pounds below the lowest medical norm for women (for men, the difference was only five pounds!).

continued at top of next column

Both the physical and emotional consequences of this social pressure are devastating. Especially common among young girls are eating disorders deriving from unrealistic attitudes toward what is considered the ideal beautiful body. The death toll is as high as 20 percent among sufferers!

Judge for yourself

BMI (body mass index) is equal to one's weight in kilograms divided by the square of one's height in meters. It does not tell anything particular about your personal health condition. However, health insurance companies around the world collect enormous amounts of BMIs, along with corresponding data on life span and major health problems. Statistics reveal that up to the BMI of about 27 there is not a lot to worry about. Starting from the BMI 21 (the "ideal" one) and up to 27-28, health risks increase only slightly (although a maximum healthy BMI is considered 25).

It does increase significantly after the BMI reaches 28 and above, although this increase fades away as we age. However, nobody knows for sure what can be done about it, because ". . . the association between intentional weight loss and longevity is unknown." It does not mean that there is not enough data on the benefits of being lean. These data are abundant! It only means that medical science does not know if the weight loss is equal to being lean. ding up of empathy. It is a result well worth achieving.

Article adapted from the dietandbody.com web site, a part of the WebSeed network. Author Tanya Zilberter, Ph.D., is a health educator, researcher, exercise physiologist, and writer with more than 20 years in health sciences.

As a time to gather and remember, join us for "Voice Like a Hammer: Poets Shaping Change," Sunday, September 8, 2002, from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The words and voices of poets Becki Buchanan, Mendy Knott, Kamela Parker, Annabeth Watts, and Leigh Wilkerson will be featured in an afternoon of dynamic readings in response to the attacks of September 11.

Nelson Fine Art Center, at 324 East Main Street, is the location for this event. WOMEN ON AIR, a WETS-FM weekly radio show, is a co-sponsor of this event. For more information, contact the Women's Resource Center at 423-439-7847.

Women's Health Series

"Being Ourselves" will be presented by Jonathan Roberts, owner of Character Evolution in Johnson City, on Tuesday, October 22, 2002. Location and time for the lunch break seminar is the Forum, D.P. Culp University Center, noon.

Roberts, a behavioral patterns specialist, will discuss unique communication skills that are associated with an individual's communication style and emotional outlook as they relate to facial structures. The awareness skills and techniques provided through this seminar will be practical and can be applied to many aspects of our daily lives. For more information, contact the Women's Resource Center at 423-439-7847.

HOMEOWNERSHIP Series

Are you considering the purchase of a home or condo? Will this be a first-time purchase? Then plan to reserve a spot for the Homeownership Series scheduled for November and December 2002.

Ani Quinby, director of Homeownership Services for the Eastern Eight Development Corporation, a partner of the ETSU Center for Community Outreach and Family Services, will facilitate the four-part series. The series covers the benefits and risks of home buying, the mortgage process, financial management, working with lenders and realtors and home maintenance.

The four-part series will be held, weekly, on Thursdays. Dates are November 14 and 21, December 5 and 12. All segments will be presented at the Women's Resource Center, Panhellenic Hall, Basement Suite 2. To reserve your space, contact the Women's Resource Center at 423-439-7847.

Top of page
Newsletter main page
Home

OTHER EVENTS & NEWS

BACK TO TOP OF PAGE

 

Women's Resource Center Main Page