Too Fat for 15

[NinjaPoodle]

On the Style Network. Anyone gonna watch besides me?

Related article with video:
'Too Fat For 15' Documents Teens' Fight Against Obesity
by Nadine Cheung

http://www.jsyk.com/2010/07/29/too-f...ainst-obesity/

[Drolefille]

Probably not, more because of time than anything, but I now feel bad for having the "All you can Eat in Vegas" show on in the background right now.

[33girl]

That boy is 15? His face doesn't look like he's over 10. Maybe it's just that particular photo.

[pshsx1]

Originally Posted by 33girl

That boy is 15? His face doesn't look like he's over 10. Maybe it's just that particular photo.

No, he's only 11. So you're very close!

They all range in ages.



Ninja, I just watched it. No complaints.

[FleurGirl]

That girl in the pink sweatshirt really isn't fat... Neither is the girl on the far left...
Those kinds of shows just make me sad.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by FleurGirl

That girl in the pink sweatshirt really isn't fat... Neither is the girl on the far left...

They are both overweight ("fat" just sounds mean).

Different perceptions of what overweight is, particularly in certain communities, is one reason why there is such an obesity problem. People need to consult medical advice including BMI and family history of issues such as diabetes instead of going based on people's opinions. I have seen some huge people in the Black community who are considered big boned, phat, or average (because everyone in their family or community is 50+ lbs overweight). It is really saddening and children are always going to mirror what the adults do, hence this show.

What's also interesting to me is how being overweight was a sign of wealth (or just nonpoverty) generations ago. It is now a sign of poverty and race disparities when looking at it based on population demographics; and it's a sign of an unhealthy and overfed industrialized nation when looking at the population at large (no pun intended).

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

What's also interesting to me is how being overweight was a sign of wealth (or just nonpoverty) generations ago.

Isn't that the truth. Google Lillian Russell - she was considered one of the most beautiful women in show business. Nowadays she'd be lucky to be Bea Arthur's stunt double, regardless of her acting chops.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Isn't that the truth. Google Lillian Russell - she was considered one of the most beautiful women in show business. Nowadays she'd be lucky to be Bea Arthur's stunt double, regardless of her acting chops.

Good point.

Painfully awesome corset.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Hideous airbrushing in that photo.

them superimposed on a grassy picture-esque background is uberfail.

And i wish i had cable to watch this.

Originally Posted by DrPhil

What's also interesting to me is how being overweight was a sign of wealth (or just nonpoverty) generations ago. It is now a sign of poverty and race disparities when looking at it based on population demographics; and it's a sign of an unhealthy and overfed industrialized nation when looking at the population at large (no pun intended).

truth.org/wordson

[FleurGirl]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

They are both overweight ("fat" just sounds mean).

I didn't say they weren't overweight, but I wouldn't really consider that "fat". And the show is called "Too Fat for 15".
I wish these kids all the best, I hope they make some positive changes in their lives. Unfortunately I think a lot of these shows go too far and exercise some really unhealthy weight loss practices. Here's hoping it's not another one of those.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by FleurGirl

I didn't say they weren't overweight, but I wouldn't really consider that "fat".

Merriam-Webster:
fat
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): fat·ter; fat·test
1 : notable for having an unusual amount of fat: a : plump b : obese

I'm sure they are over 40% bodyfat and they are obese (which increases the likelihood of having high bodyfat, although smaller sized people can also have unusual amounts of bodyfat). If "fat" didn't sound so mean, I'd call them "fat." Perhaps they chose that show title because it gets more people's attention.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Merriam-Webster:
fat
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): fat·ter; fat·test
1 : notable for having an unusual amount of fat: a : plump b : obese

I'm sure they are over 20% bodyfat and they are obese (which increases the likelihood of having high bodyfat, although smaller sized people can also have unusual amounts of bodyfat). If "fat" didn't sound so mean, I'd call them "fat." Perhaps they chose that show title because it gets more people's attention.

BMI can be very inaccurate for people who are extremely athletic, but for the rest of us it's a fairly useful indicator. A reading of 20% for adult women actually falls very solidly in the healthy range. 25.0-29.9 is an overweight range, and you are considered obese at 30. For a 15 year old girl 18-26 is the healthy range I believe, so 20% would be very healthy. These kids are certainly 26+.

You can get your BMI from an instant internet table, but for "thin" people your doctor can get a little more complicated. I don't remember exactly what my doctor did to determine my body fat was out of proportion, but it was extremely high though my weight was in fact very healthy. This is why thin people who do not eat well or exercise can be "fat".

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by FleurGirl

That girl in the pink sweatshirt really isn't fat... Neither is the girl on the far left...
Those kinds of shows just make me sad.

The bottom line is that even though the girls you refer to may not look "that big", they are obese (according to an article based on the press release). It mentioned the weights of three of the younger kids - 210, 366 and 510. The other two (17 and 18) are "veterans" of the place that they are going to lose the weight, and I don't know their weights.

I'm not advocating an impossibly thin, size-0 standard. Yes, there are perfectly healthy people who are naturally thin, and those who attain smaller sizes through proper nutrition and appropriate exercise, but a lot of people try to get there via very unhealthy methods. But it also seems that things have headed in the opposite direction. People rationalize that just because they're not bigger than the "average woman", they're ok, when the "average woman" is technically overweight. And yes, you can be overweight and relatively healthy.

I applaud anyone who decides to take their health more seriously and make changes. That can mean something as drastic as losing 50 pounds, a commitment like a daily walking program, or simply deciding to eat lean meat instead of fatty cuts.

And lastly, I'm not saying that people need to hate their bodies. We just need to realize that the human body, though very complex, is a gift we get just one chance at using. When you think of it that way, and all the things it can do, you might just want to keep it around for as long as possible, and in the best condition possible.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

The bottom line is that even though the girls you refer to may not look "that big", they are obese (according to an article based on the press release). It mentioned the weights of three of the younger kids - 210, 366 and 510. The other two (17 and 18) are "veterans" of the place that they are going to lose the weight, and I don't know their weights.

I'm not advocating an impossibly thin, size-0 standard. Yes, there are perfectly healthy people who are naturally thin, and those who attain smaller sizes through proper nutrition and appropriate exercise, but a lot of people try to get there via very unhealthy methods. But it also seems that things have headed in the opposite direction. People rationalize that just because they're not bigger than the "average woman", they're ok, when the "average woman" is technically overweight. And yes, you can be overweight and relatively healthy.

I applaud anyone who decides to take their health more seriously and make changes. That can mean something as drastic as losing 50 pounds, a commitment like a daily walking program, or simply deciding to eat lean meat instead of fatty cuts.

And lastly, I'm not saying that people need to hate their bodies. We just need to realize that the human body, though very complex, is a gift we get just one chance at using. When you think of it that way, and all the things it can do, you might just want to keep it around for as long as possible, and in the best condition possible.

That goes for thin people, too. Thin people can be as unhealthy as fat people.

There are people that are naturally heavy and are still healthy, and there's a hard line to walk between reminding people that being very overweight can be dangerous and making people feel bad about themselves.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

That goes for thin people, too. Thin people can be as unhealthy as fat people.

Did you type this disclaimer out of habit without reading ree-Xi's post to see that she already included that disclaimer in her post?

If so, that's another reason why obesity will never stop being a problem in America and disproportionately in the Black community. People are so stuck in disclaimers and making sure no one feels bad about themselves. Yeah, let's make the AVERAGE PERSON (athletes are a small % of the population) believe that they can be 50+ lbs (technically) overweight and be perfectly healthy; and that we can't discuss obesity without also discussing how people can be thin or average size and unhealthy.

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

There are people that are naturally heavy and are still healthy....

"Naturally heavy." If I had $1 for every time I heard that, especially from Black folks.

Either way, those people represent a very small % and they need to consult doctor(s) to ensure that they are REALLY heavy and healthy. Eating well (that includes the right kind of food and the right proportions--overeating health food and junk food is unhealthy) and exercising usually means that you will not be "heavy" in the sense that most people are overweight. The scale may be higher, especially when you build muscle mass, but your bodyfat composition and how your body looks and clothes fit will show that the person isn't overweight in the sense that we are talking about in this thread.

People get real unrealistic and dishonest when we talk about body image and weight. People pretend that their muffin top is a result of healthy and moderate eating and exercise. You don't have to want to lose weight for your body to reflect your healthy lifestyle.