Media images are striking. We see celebrities on the red carpet with skinny bodies in the latest tight-fitting couture and wonder…why don’t I look like that?
What do you see when you look in the mirror? Researchers report that women’s and men’s perceptions of their bodies differ. In a recent survey of 813 adults ages 19 to 39, women of normal weight tended to perceive themselves as overweight, while normal-weight men often perceived themselves as too skinny. In addition, nearly half of the men assessed as overweight, perceived themselves to be of normal weight.
What creates this distorted self-image? Researchers theorize that societal influences such as the media, provide thinner-than-average role models for women and bulkier-than-normal examples for men. Consider these examples from the American Eating Disorders Association:
- The average American woman is 5’4” tall and weighs 140 pounds, yet the average American female model is 5’11” tall and weighs 117 pounds.
- Most fashion models are thinner than 98 percent of American women.
- Almost half of American elementary school students in grades 1-3 want to be thinner.
- Four out of five children at the age of 10 are afraid of being fat.
With our society’s obsession over body image, you might think we would be lean, mean and physically fit machines. The surgeon general reports, however, that a staggering 61 percent of American adults are overweight, and that 56 percent of Australians are overweight.
Part of the problem comes from inactivity and the tendency to look for a “quick fix.” The weight loss industry earns $40 billion on dieting and diet-related products each year, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Yet, according to the surgeon general, only one third of U.S. adults follow experts’ recommendations and exercise for 30 minutes, five days per week.
Carrying extra pounds leads to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, arthritis, depression and cancer. So how can we get an accurate assessment of our health if not by Madonna’s triceps? To determine whether you are a healthful weight, don’t compare yourself to people around you or in the media. Instead, check your body mass index (BMI) at www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi. This tool, based on data from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, helps measure fatness and proportion. It doesn’t take into account lean muscle mass however, so athletes and body builders may get faulty results. Also, keep in mind that the BMI is not meant as a substitute for a professional medical assessment.
Recognizing the ‘true you’, once you have accepted that the media portrayal of body weight is unrealistic, you may wonder how to define good health and ideal body shape. The American College of Sports Medicine defines physical fitness as a combination of cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance and flexibility. By focusing on getting an adequate combination of aerobic exercise, strength training, stretching and sleep, and by eating properly, you can enjoy increased energy, stamina and improved health. And while today’s actors, models and rock stars will be forgotten tomorrow, being fit never goes out of style!
