Desperate to Look Good in a Swimsuit?
Between the 1960s and the 2000s, Americans grew, on the average, an inch taller and 24 pounds heavier. I think you could make the case that Americans are getting larger while at the same time are increasingly troubled over their bodies. Men, women and children are self conscious about their size. Everyone makes a New Year’s resolution to lose weight, only to fail, and by swimsuit season we are frantic about our bodies. Even kids as young as five think their ideal weight is thinner than their current size and struggle with their self esteem.
Many people will jeopardize their health in pursuit of their goal weight. I was saddened to read about allegations that contestants on the TV show, The Biggest Loser, were given drugs such as ephedra and Adderall and encouraged to starve themselves. One contestant, Suzanne Mendonca said that contestants would consume amphetamines, water pills, and diuretics, then throw up in the bathroom. She reported that she vomited daily, and five others in her season had to be rushed to the hospital. The producers deny these claims but medical professionals have spoken out about the show’s weight loss practices. Quite a few of the contestants have gained the weight back, which is attributable to the poor manner in which they lost the weight. A weight loss of one to 2 pounds is the typical recommendation for long term success.
But when the insecure beach goers decide to tackle their weight in a hurry, they may subject themselves to deprivation diets or intense exercise regimens. There are health consequences to yo-yo dieting. However, there are also negative health consequences of obesity. Thirty-three percent of US adults are overweight and an additional 36 percent are obese. One in six children in the US is obese.
But what is alarming is the desperation, the frantic nature, of people who are unhappy with themselves. I’m an advocate of sensible exercise and slow weight loss. But I’m also concerned with your mental health as you attempt to shed some pounds. Remind yourself that you are a human being with value. Accept and respect yourself now, even with those extra pounds. Be comfortable with yourself, inside and out. Know that perfection is a myth. Your weight is not a measure of your worth. Focus on health – psychological as well as medical.