Weight obsession

I was led to this post from another blog.

Weight is a medical issue. Just about everything becomes more difficult to do as weight increases: the heart has to pump harder, to force blood through more miles (yes - miles) of vasculature; the musculoskeletal system must support and move the additional weight, which it is not prepared to do; the respiratory system is impaired both by extra tissue in the mouth/neck, which can cause sleep apnea, and because an overly large abdomen must be moved out of the way for the diaphragm to drop and the lungs to expand; etc.

And, it's a scientific issue. We are only starting to understand why some people gain weight while others don't. The nature of a proper diet is debated. How to calculate what a person's proper weight is is also unclear. So, weight is a complex issue.

Weight and body size are intimate details of our lives that are on public display every day; anybody we meet in person, anyone who just sees us is instantly informed about how much we weigh - not exactly, but close enough for it to be uncomfortable, particularly in an image-obsessed society such as our own. People whose weight or size are grossly at odds with our ideas of fitness are an easy target for people who feel more secure by pointing out other's faults. The anonymity of the internet only adds to people's boldness.

The same people are also the recipient of well-meaning advice. We are a social people, and we like to advise others, perhaps because it enables us to show off our knowledge. I suspect that often, advice is given more to satisfy a need on the part of the giver, rather than the receiver. Unsolicited advice also carries with it a subtext: "you're screwing up, somehow; I can show you how to do better. Aren't I so helpful, aren't I so superior?

Differentiating between well-intentioned advice and deliberate insult is not always easy. Some remarks fall into both categories. Perhaps they all do. In any event, they often say more about the speaker than about the intended audience.

See here for some more thoughts.