Clearly this guy is trying to start something on John Robinson's blog.
I guess some people will say anything for a little attention.
But it got me to thinking about how hurtful some of these comments can be - especially to women.
Last week as I covered the press conference on the Guilford County Mayors' Challenge, there were hardly any women up there talking about weight. But between eight and 10 men spoke.
The issue didn't make it into the story but when I asked about it, Linda L. Fullam, the director of the Nutrition and Diabetes Management Center with the Moses Cone Health System, said this:
"With women it's more of an emotional issue. For men it's more of a physical issue."
Some men, she said, will grab their gut almost as a point of pride. Women are not always so willing to talk about.
So is there ever a good way to get women to talk constructively about their weight as a health issue? Or are we doomed to conversations about how thin we look in a certain pair of jeans?
UPDATE: Here's in an interesting story from today's New York Times on female athletes and weight. Registration is required to read it.
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3 comments:
Though it may seem like a constant regurgitation staple of our society there are just greater physical demands on women and their appearance. Out of all my clients 85% of them are women. They come to me having read article after article about "toning" (which is a made up word by the way) and the staple of eating 1200 calories a day. And for what? To starve themselves and reduce their energy to such a point where "failure" isn't an option, it is a means of survival.
We must seek out the education to a better life, a better body and a higher level of respect for ourselves. That is my goal as a trainer and as a woman. Good Luck on your journey.
Leigh Peele NASM-CPT
Avidity Fitness
Greensboro, NC
I'm a woman who weighs just shy of 400 lbs (390 as of this morning). I've been heavy for so long that I no longer am self-conscious about how I look. I have a pretty face, nice eyes, good personality, and above-average intelligence, and a boyfriend. I do wish people would be more accepting of those of us with size issues and not so condemning. I do wish manufacturers of things like theatre seats and office chairs and cars and seat belts and clothing would realize that there are large numbers of people like me in the world. I've been on The South Beach diet since the beginning of the year and I've lost about 10 lbs. I joined the YMCA to swim and I don't care what people think of me in a bathing suit. I'm in this for my health. It's hard, and I can see how obsessed with food I am. But I'm going to keep trying, even if it kills me.
You seem to have a good attitude about life, scamptress.
Good luck with your diet and exercise.
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