Being Obese in a Modern World
What is Obesity? Well according to the Mayo Clinic’s definition, it is when an individual has so much body fat it leads to increased health problems and risk of disease. Or, a BMI (Body Mass Index) greater than 30. In many cases the medical community states it simply. Taking more calories in the body then calories utilized thorugh your activity or resting metabolic needs.
Now that is pretty basic. When I go to my annual physician appointments they do the usual biometrics and then slap a label on me as being Morbidly Obese. Why? Because I have a BMI of 39.9 and hypertension. Not quite what you want to hear.
There is so much stigma attached to this labeling. Not, only medically but psychologically. I will start with the medical.
Yes, it increases your risk of diabetes, hypertension, cardiac disease and a slew of other disease processes. You experience lack of energy, fatigue, shortness of breath, sore muscles and joints. But, also your insurance companies sit up and take notice. Your physician even treats you differently. So many think it’s because you do nothing but sit inside and eat through the day. Basically, you’re lazy and do nothing to help yourself. This may be true in some cases but not always When I try to tell my doctor what I do to combat obesity I swear his eyes literally glaze over or roll back in his head. Okey, dokey, you are clearly not interested or don’t believe me. So infuriating!
Personally, most of my life I was a normal weight for my size. Albeit, according to the height and weight charts, as a woman being 5’5″ and 150 lbs I was considered overweight. I wore a size 8! The fact, I was extremely active, large framed and muscular, was not taken into account in these charts. As, I moved into my mid 40s I started gaining weight easily where previously I maintained with no effort. To this day I think I was probably struggling with PCOS. Another problem in itself. Then at 50 a hysterectomy changed everything. Increased weight and belly fat. I was still very active but my weight continued to climb. When I discussed it with my doctors they did the expected eye roll. Now that I am in my mid 60s the weight gain has stopped, but, it is also hard to take off. . Even if you eat a plant based diet, log calories, lift weight and walk 10,000 steps a day, the response by many people is, “Sure, if you were doing that you wouldn’t be fat”. At least, thats what they have been taught to believe.
The psychological toll obesity takes. This is generally caused by how society as a whole views anyone considered “overweight”. Everyday, in every task you are always aware of your excess weight. Whether, you are, exercising, going to dinner or buying clothes. Even joining a gym! People look at you like you have some kind of contagious illness. Fatfobia is very real. I can’t count the number of times I have taken a pillow to cover my belly when sitting on a couch or standing behind someone when photos are taken. I’ve become an expert at layering clothes to hide my body. Even though, I have muscles for days. These habits become ingrained because of the shame you feel.
Although, there are attempts to stop fat shaming, I believe the weight loss business, perpetuates it. Why? Because, if people became more comfortable in their bodies these business’s would lose a lot of money. I don’t see alot of change coming in the future. In the mean time, be the best version of yourself and live your life fully. The shame is on them, not you.
