Pat, Som, and Aleks discuss the Healthy at Any Size movement.
Can You Really Be Healthy at Any Size?
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Like anything else, people use cop-out in order to get out of being uncomfortable. So much change is about being inordinately uncomfortable for a short period of time to gain lasting results. Become comfortable being uncomfortable, it will change your life.
Big Pete, good points. I think the discomfort of dieting really depends on how you approach it. If you do it from eating half a pizza one day then deciding to cut back and eat a salad a day, you might be in shock and considerable discomfort. However, there are a number of relatively comfortable diet plans whether it’s something like Weight Watchers or doing meal replacement shakes to supplement your change in eating. The biggest help is planning your new nutrition (and fitness lifestyle) out so you can handle it.
We need more conversations like this. It’s amazing that the same side of the political/philosophical aisle, who will cite science and scientific studies until they’re blue in the face when it comes to climate change, have no interest in looking at empirical scientific and medical data when it comes to topics like obesity or fitness.
No one is saying you shouldn’t feel good about yourself or having a positive self-image. But it does no one any benefit to pretend that being heavy or obese doesn’t have deleterious effects to one’s health. Who are we helping? Why is high self-esteem so much more important than living a longer life with less likelihood of pain, discomfort, gastrointestinal issues, cardiovascular issues, neurological issues, etc?
Thanks guys for having a discussion that shouldn’t be necessary, but sadly is.
Pat, I just want to begin by condemning you for fat shaming people. LOL. Just kidding as you know. Sadly, there are physical consequences for being overweight. To deny it just doesn’t make sense and while I’m not for society enforcing healthy choices (I think it’s a slippery slope), people should be aware of the risks they take when they engage in unhealthy behavior whether it’s smoking, excessive drinking, or being obese. I enjoyed listening to this podcast because I never heard about the “healthy at any size” movement. I have heard (and watched) “My 600-Pound Life” and I know that “healthy at any size” is patently wrong. “Wealthy at Any Income Level” had me dying when I heard it, Pat. I’m not a fitness guru (although I’m getting into better shape thanks to some tips from your new book “How to Be Better at Almost Everything” I’m developing a strategy for getting fit and losing weight). I think where some people get confused is by the idea that people who are somewhat overweight can be in better shape than skinny people. For example, an overweight person might be very active as opposed to a skinny (or “ideal weight”) person who doesn’t exercise and who smokes and/or drinks heavily. I don’t know too many doctors who tell people, “You’re 50 pounds overweight, but don’t worry because people can be healthy at any size.” People also ignore the cumulative effects of being overweight as you age. If you carry extra weight, it takes a toll on your body whether it’s your bone structure or organs (not to mention diabetes). And yes, there may be occasional exceptions. For example, William Shatner is about to turn 88 and while he’s not morbidly obese, he’s a pretty big guy. In any event, good stuff and thanks for taking a stand in an environment where people are willing to lie to make people feel good (and to make a good buck off them).
Obesity will make your life miserable more and more over time and likely it will kill you. To ignore the ill effects of being an unhealthy size is delusional thinking. To perpetuate the myth that it’s okay to be at an unhealthy weight/size should be criminal by anyone making money by propagating such a belief.
I think it depends on the individual, their family history, and their other habits. Do they get drunk all the time? Do they do hard drugs? There are a number of factors besides body weight and BMI when it comes to health. If you’re 30 pounds overweight, you might be okay. 300 pounds overweight, not so much.
Thanks for opening this up Pat. There are just lots of arguments going on regarding you should love who you are despite your size. To a point yes in a sense you shouldn’t hate yourself for the size you’re in but if you really love yourself you wouldn’t want to put yourself in a situation of more risk. The studies have already proven it. It’s about choosing to improve the state you’re in and not make it detrimental to yourself.