October 20, 2008 Hello! For many teens, the perception of what they feel is the correct weight and the reality of what constitutes a healthy weight are very different.
"Over 13,000 teens from 150 high schools completed questionnaires... To determine
weight perception, participants were asked to describe themselves as very or slightly
underweight, 'about the right weight,' or slightly or very overweight. ...
The mean BMI for the 2001 sample was 23.7, which is considered to be normal weight;
the range was from 16.8, underweight, to 54.98, morbidly obese. ... There were significant
differences in the ways boys and girls viewed their weight. For example, 25% of
normal weight boys viewed themselves as underweight, the exact same percentage of
normal weight girls who viewed themselves as overweight. A majority of overweight
boys, 56%, viewed their weight as 'OK,' while only 24% of overweight girls
reported the same perception. Even 19% of obese boys reported their weight as OK,
as compared with 7% of obese girls. Combined, these results support the theory that
actual weight and concept of weight are separate entities." The separation between perception and reality is not just an issue for teens. It can also affect children and adults. Just as teens can struggle to know what weight is "normal," children can have a difficult time figuring out what they "should" weigh, and parents can struggle to know if their children and teens are at a healthy weight.
"Data on 2,100 Australian children found 40% of parents with an overweight
or underweight child had not spotted this. Among children, the underweight were
more likely to think of themselves as average than the overweight. ... We live in
a society where being big is becoming far more common, and is seen as normal. Child
obesity is thought to be increasing fast in many countries, and experts are hunting
for effective ways to intervene, both at school, and home. ... The Melbourne researchers
analysed the 2,100 children using both Body Mass Index and waist circumference,
to try to establish which fell into the 'underweight', 'overweight'
and 'average' groups. They then compared these results with the recorded
perceptions of their parents. In total 43% of parents of overweight or underweight
children placed their child in the 'average' bracket. ... When the children
themselves were asked, six out of 10 underweight girls and half of underweight boys
did not assess their weight correctly." The perception of what is healthy or "normal" can come from different sources. People of all ages can compare themselves to their peers, their family members, and/or the celebrities they see in the media. If people are inspired by those around them to begin making healthier lifestyle choices, then the comparisons can lead to a positive outcome. Far too often, however, these comparisons lead to unrealistic expectations and unhealthy choices.
"TV, movies, and magazines are full of images of bodies that are too perfect
to be real. Children and teens see these images all the time, and they may wish
they could look like the ultra-thin models they see. What they may not know is that
almost every picture in a fashion magazine has been "touched up" in some
way to make the models look better. Teens often try to look like these unreal pictures
by going on extreme diets. ... Research shows that about two-thirds of teen girls
and about one-quarter of teen boys are trying to control their weight. Changing
your diet can be a good thing. For instance, some teens may decide to stay away
from junk food, add more fruits and vegetables to their diets, or exercise more
often. These healthy choices can help people control their weight safely." While having friends who encourage healthy choices can be a positive influence that helps people make lifestyle changes for the better, it can be a recipe for disaster when people use their friends as a gage as to what is healthy and what is not. A study published in 2007 provides one example as to how:
"The study, conducted by Dr. Nicholas A. Christakis of Harvard Medical School
and James H. Fowler of UC San Diego, is the first to document the spread of obesity
through a social network -- a pattern of contagion most often associated with infectious
diseases such as influenza and AIDS. Instead of transmitting germs or viruses, people
infected each other with their perceptions of weight. For example, a man attending
a Thanksgiving meal may notice his brother has gained weight and conclude that it's
OK to be heavier, Christakis said. 'It's about the spread of norms from person
to person,' said Christakis, a professor of medical sociology. The phenomenon
worked in the other direction as well. People who become thinner, increase the chances
that their friends and relatives will lose weight too, researchers said." Once again, perception and reality can have a difficult time finding common ground when people look to those around them for what is considered "normal." While this can be problematic at any age, it can be especially difficult for tweens and teens.
"People have different body types, so there's no single number that's
the right weight for everyone. Even among people who are the same height and age,
some are more muscular or more developed than others. That's because not all
teens have the same body type or develop at the same time. It is possible to find
out if you are in a healthy weight range for your height, though -- it just takes
a little effort. ... During puberty, the body begins making hormones that spark
physical changes like faster muscle growth (particularly in guys) and spurts in
height and weight gain in both guys and girls. ... All that new weight gain can
be perfectly fine — as long as body fat, muscle, and bone are in the right proportion.
Because some kids start developing as early as age 8 and some not until age 14 or
so, it can be normal for two people who are the same height and age to have very
different weights." The media will continue to show its perception of what can be considered the "correct" weight. In contrast, with obesity on the rise, the general (public) perception of what is considered a "normal" weight will continue to change.
"Obesity continued to increase dramatically during the late 1990s for Americans
of all ages according to the data collected and analyzed by the National Center
for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The percent of children and teens who are overweight also continues to increase.
Among children and teens ages 6-19, 15 percent (almost 9 million) are overweight
according to the 1999-2000 data, or triple what the proportion was in 1980. In addition,
the data shows that another 15 percent of children and teens ages 6 to 19 are considered
at risk of becoming overweight. Obesity can be defined as an excessive accumulation
of body fat, which results in individuals being at least 20 percent heavier than
their ideal body weight. 'Overweight' is defined as any weight in excess
of the ideal range. Obesity is a common eating disorder associated with adolescence." Unfortunately, the mental images that fill the minds and lives of most people come from the extremes. The images of people who are below what is considered healthy according to BMI calculations and people who are above what is considered a healthy BMI are everywhere. As the middle ground gets more difficult to find in everyday life, it is becoming more and more important for people of all ages to discuss with a medical professional what would be considered a healthy weight for them.
For more information about BMI, visit:
Questions of the Week: Please email me with any ideas or suggestions. I look forward to reading what you have to say. Cindy |
|||||
