Obesity

I have been doing a great deal of research about obesity, over the past few years but particularly over the past few months.

It has become increasingly obvious that we are not getting the full story when it comes to the health consequences of being overweight. Books such as The Obesity Myth and Big Fat Lies, for example, might come across as slightly ‘conspiracy theory-ish’ but there is no doubt that they raise some pretty serious questions.

Perhaps most serious of all is their question as to why the media choose to almost exclusively report studies (or, more accurately, someone’s interpretation of a study) that link obesity with impending death – when there are so many that cannot find much of a link at all.

The answer is obvious: ‘Being fat WON’T kill you’ is just not a sexy headline.

From my reading, which is continuing, the answer is clear: When obesity has been linked to 'premature' death, it is the LIFESTYLE of the individual that is most likely the cause.

In other words, it’s not the FAT that kills you – it’s the sedentary lifestyle and the junk food, the smoking, the drinking etc.

You might think that this is stating the bleeding obvious – but surely you know someone who looks thin from the outside, but could quite easily be killing themselves with their lack of activity and other bad habits, such as smoking? I know I do. But society doesn’t look them up and down and decide they’re disgusting – unless they happen to be blowing smoke in their faces.

This is why I will never weigh my clients. If you have bad habits, and you get rid of them, you will probably lose weight. That should be seen as a nice bonus, not the main goal!

The only time I would advocate for a client to lose weight is if it is affecting their daily life – perhaps they are suffering from knee pain, they can’t put their own shoes on, or they find it hard getting in and out of their car. Even then, however, getting fit and strong is the answer – and they will probably lose weight along the way.

I can’t emphasise enough my belief that the main problem with being fat is a social one. Fat doesn’t equal bad health, just as thin doesn’t equal good health. Let's face it - we live in a society that thinks fat is ugly. Only now we feel smugly justified in telling people that we are worried for their health, in order to deny our own shallow prejudices.

Your body will find its natural weight, if you let it. It might look like something from the cover of a magazine, but it probably won’t. Once we start enjoying and focusing on what our bodies can do, the happier we will be.