Weight Loss: Maybe Not Such A Great Idea

Warning: If you are trying to lose weight, you might not want to read this article in today's New York Times. In discussing whether or not weight-loss treatment and surgery should be paid for by health insurance, a number of distressing statistics and studies are cited:

"What is not known is whether [weight loss] surgery's health benefits outweigh its risks over the long term."

"Other studies have focused on...whether overweight or obese people who voluntarily lost weight were healthier. Some studies found that they were; some found no difference; and some found that they actually died at a greater rate."

"It is true that thinner people tend to be healthier, but studies have found that, biochemically, the formerly fat are like people who are starving: obsessed with food, needing fewer calories to maintain their body weight. Many...have slow heart rates and always feel cold; women may stop menstruating, even if they are still relatively fat. Is that better or worse than remaining fat? No one knows for sure."

"Research studies at academic medical centers, providing intensive diet, exercise and behavioral therapy, result in losses of 8 to 12 percent of body weight in six months. But most people gain the weight back in a few years."

"Clearly, doctors have not yet given up on the idea that weight loss may improve health. Yet, they said, when they urge patients to lower their expectations about how much weight they can lose, some react with shock."

"Those few who succeed at weight loss may end up on what amounts to a permanent diet. People in a national registry of successful dieters...report consuming just 1,400 calories a day and walking, or doing equivalent exercise, for an hour a day."

So to sum up, it is really hard to lose more than 5 to 10 percent of your body weight. And if you lose a lot of weight, you may not be any healthier and in fact may be less healthy. In addition, you will probably gain the weight back. If you don't gain the weight back, you will be on a strict diet for the rest of your life.

Obviously this is the worst-case scenario perpetuated by insurance companies who don't want to pay for weight-loss treatment. Still, it's kind of depressing! (Stay tuned for the inevitable "this article is horseshit" posts in the comments. It will make all of us dieters feel better.)

Let's Make Couch French Fries

A fascinating essay about the term "couch potato" and the legitimacy, or not, thereof.

"[T]he idea that technology and modern Western life in general makes us sick, fat, lazy and (physically and mentally) soft has been around for centuries. In fact, the idea that modernity and its gadgets are a sign of progress has always gone hand in hand with the fear that they are physically and morally harmful."

Among other things, this article discusses how the common notion of "these kids today" sitting in front of the television and eating junk food, or playing too many computer games, has far less to do with obesity than other factors such as income level and social identity. Thought-provoking.

Must See TV

"The Biggest Loser," a new weight-loss reality show, premieres October 19. In case you haven't heard about it: "The twelve contestants will be divided into two teams of six; the Blue team and the Red team; mixed gender and organized to be equal in weight. Each team will then be assigned a trainer to provide their team with individual fitness and nutrition regimens. One trainer has a tough 'boot camp' attitude while the other offers a much calmer approach yet remains strict and focused on results."

I am semi-interested in this show--in the different training methods and approaches and so forth--but I saw a commercial featuring a giant buffet table full of cookies and cake, which apparently they will have near the contestants at all times. I am sure there will be, at some point, an extreme close-up of some sad-looking fat person stuffing a donut in his mouth. Or crying over having "been bad" or whatever. Something horrible like that.

I hope it isn't true, because the "fat people are fat because they stuff themselves with donuts" thing is just so over as far as I'm concerned. But this is reality TV, so I'm sure they'll stoop as low as possible. Hey, at least it's not "The Swan," right?

Another Unfortunate Trend

The idea that women are learning to hate their pregnant and postpartum bodies is not surprising. Especially not when Julia Roberts supposedly "hates" her pregnant body (hopefully this was invented by the tabloids) and celebrities have to be pre-baby-thin before they can go out in public.

"A Royal North Shore Hospital study of 181 women last year found concerns about body weight during pregnancy was leading some women to develop eating disorders during and after pregnancy, which in turn put them at higher risk of post-natal depression in the first year after childbirth."

I miss the years when Demi Moore was pregnant on the cover of Vanity Fair, don't you?

Dispatch From The Obvious Department

Overweight kids have low self-esteem. People get paid to research this?

Cutting Through Size Confusion

"[W]hen you're shopping, you can whip out your measuring tape and quickly measure a pair of jeans. If the measure's close to your natural rise, then try on the jeans. If it's not, keep moving no matter how enticing an 'it' label may be."

My favorite article this morning is all about how to find the perfect pair of jeans. At the moment I have two pairs of jeans that are fitting me very weirdly. And of course all the different styles and sizes and rises make it all the more complicated. I am all about this measuring-tape technique for next time.

Ew

I too read Entertainment Weekly, but have not yet gotten this issue; I am now pre-emptively annoyed. (Most weeks I am just pre-emptively annoyed with the Ghost of Jim Mullen, who now lingers over the Hot List, or whatever it's called, like a cantankerous ghostly presence of unfunniness.) Sarah Lindner over at the Austin American-Statesman preaches it:

"[D]id the magazine have to emphasize plus-size chick-lit author Jennifer Weiner's weight above all else? As we all know, if you're overweight, that negates every other quality you possess. It is possible that you do not even have a soul. I'm not saying don't mention it -- Weiner's heroines are overweight -- but the whole article doesn't have to read like 'LOOK! She's fat!'"

Vanity: Fair?

When companies take an outfit that would "typically" be a size 10 and call it an 8, that's called "vanity sizing." The Daily News talks about how your size can fluctuate wildly depending on where you shop. Man, that's frustrating. But also I get a little thrill from fitting in a L, say, as opposed to an XL, because it makes me feel like I am one step closer to "normal" now! Yes, I realize that's effed up, please don't yell at me.

"Despite the inconvenience, O'Brien said she prefers the arbitrary system to being measured in exact inches. 'Otherwise it's just too brutal.'"

Man, really? I think the current system is pretty brutal. Give me inches any day. My bra size has never made me feel bad about myself the way those ultra-small Old Navy jeans can. I hate getting "my" size off the rack and then discovering that I need a bigger one. Stop the mind games, clothing industry! I can't stop playing them!

Sequin And Applique Envy

I was rooting for the girl in this article, who learned that she didn't have to dress down just because she is overweight. Good for her. In case you don't want to enter your ZIP code or whatever to read it, it's an article about the increasing versatility of plus-size styles, and how stores are trying to cater to plus-sized people who have different approaches to fashion. Although I had to laugh at this quote:

"'We have girls come in with their skinny friends all the time,' said Lane Bryant Assistant Store Manager Kelly Martino. 'And the skinny ones are always saying "Oh, I wish I could fit into that."''

Somehow I doubt that skinny chicks are clamoring to fit into the cutting-edge styles at Lane Bryant when they have pretty much the rest of the fashion world to choose from. I could be wrong, but... naah. I'm totally not wrong. Heh.

Bridalrexia

This doesn't surprise me at all. It's about the lengths brides are going to in order to look good on their wedding days and in their wedding photos. From manicures and highlights to liposuction and collagen injections! I love how the brides refuse to give dollar amounts because they know how shocked everyone would be. It's understandable to want to look your best on your wedding day, but there's a such thing as going too far. Why would you need liposuctioned thighs under a poufy dress, anyway?

I Am Wearing A Tarp, Don't Worry

Not to gloss over the health risks of overweight, but when the first paragraph of your article tells me that fat people need to "cover themselves decently" while skinny people can flaunt themselves, I'm not really going to pay much attention to what you have to say.

Plus-Sized Model Contest Winner

If you click on the picture, you will find that instead of a "new face of plus-sized fashion," what the world really needs is new plus-sized fashion. I mean, what the hell is that outfit about? And that fake flower on her hand? Hideous!

Hooray For Casual Fridays!

In my office, every day is casual Friday, but those of you who aren't so lucky may want to show your boss this article. Also, I am thinner in San Francisco (a walking city) than I was in Los Angeles (a driving city). This is anecdotal proof that these researchers are right. Right?

I Thought I'd Heard Them All

An overview of wacky and not-so-wacky diets. My favorite is the Blood Group Diet:

"For example, type A blood groups are descended from farmers, so they should avoid meat and dairy. If you are type B, your ancestors were nomads, so meals should be of red meat and fish. Type O, you are descended from hunter-gatherers, so eat lots of animal protein with few carbohydrates."

Constant Vigilance

"I have to admit that I am not always this tuned in to the messages present in advertising, but something about this ad just made a switch in my head go 'click!' I am mostly numb to the 'woman-as-shrill-harpie' stereotype in ads, but combining it with the 'sassy-black-woman' and 'black-woman-with-junk-in-trunk' stereotypes just set me off, and I sat up and took notice of all the other offensive crap in the ad."

I work in advertising myself, but I am happy to say that I haven't seen my company do an ad like the one Juliekins describes. Nor have I seen this ad; have you? If anyone wants to tell Twix what they think, here's your chance.

Bonus: Plus-Sized Models

Plus-sized clothing is finally beginning to catch up with timely trends. And thank god for that. And I totally want a poncho. Why is it that they look so ridiculous on me?

"A Tad Defensive"

I don't mean to pick on Anonymous Commenter #753, but this article may be an eye-opener to those who think fat prejudice is mostly in our own heads.

"[W]eight-sensitive evaluators 'felt disdain, but couldn't put a label on it.' Their prejudice revealed itself instead in a gut-level reaction--as if some inner voice said, 'This person's fat. I don't like her,' These subjects had a hard time explaining why they thought heavier applicants were unfit for the job."

Link via Juju.

A Good Rule of Thumb

The Great Australian Diet seems very sensible to me. "The best way to work it out is to look at the food and work out how much and how badly humans have interfered with it."

The Thin Twin

I did not know that "anorexia is the most deadly mental illness--more likely to kill its victims than depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder." Nor did I know that there was so little research being done in that field. Maybe things will change with the high-profile treatment of Mary-Kate Olsen; then again, Karen Carpenter was the Mary-Kate of her day, wasn't she?

Industry Of Fat

It is worth remembering that weight loss is a multi-billion-dollar industry:

"Marketdata estimates that the entire weight-loss category will reach $44.6 billion in revenue this year, about $1.5 billion of which will go to weight-loss centers like Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers."

I was kind of impressed that the new Jenny Craig ad execs actually went on the diet to land the account. It doesn't mention if Jenny Craig still does prepackaged food. I can't imagine subsisting entirely on prepackaged Jenny Craig food. Talk about punishing yourself.

Emotional Sinkhole

From this article, I learned that Always is selling plus-sized pantyliners and that Queen Latifah is endorsing Curvation, a line of lingerie for plus-sized women. Advertisers are tapping into the market of larger women by giving them permission to feel good about themselves.

"...the whole size debate [is] 'a big emotional sinkhole for women. Marketers are trying to use that to their advantage and get away from the old terms.'

I know the bottom line of all of this advertising and all these new products is profit, but I also know that more fat-positive images in the media would be a good thing to have. I think marginalized people respond incredibly positively to having things marketed to them, and they appreciate advertising that doesn't make them feel like second-class citizens. (What fat girl doesn't love Torrid?)

"Who Ate All The Pies?"

A great BBC article about fat prejudice. I love that there is an obesity-related organization out there called "Toast."

"Prejudice against the overweight is such that they are less likely to get a job and can earn less when they do. A Liverpool University study found preconceptions about the obese extended to their friends, who were judged less attractive than those with slim companions... Other potential pitfalls are being stared at by schoolchildren, being spoken to slowly and dealing with people's shock when you eat fruit or exercise."

I hope my "slim companions" don't break up with me now. Thanks to Juju for the link!

Is That Even Legal?

This article about Steve Garvey's endorsement of "Fat Trapper," which "is made out of seafood shells and allegedly 'surrounds the fat in the food you eat and entraps it,'" reminds me of a story I heard once back in my Los Angeles days.

An acquaintance of mine was tapped to appear in an infomercial for a "miracle" exercise product. They dressed him up in oversized clothes, lit him unflatteringly, and had him stand with his belly pooched out and a mildly depressed look on his face. This was the "before" picture. Then they took him into another room, spray-tanned him, dressed him up, changed the lighting, and had him suck in his stomach and grin like hell. Voila! The "after" picture!

In case you were ever tempted to believe everything you see on late-night TV. You may want to not do that.

Bridget Jones: Fat And Dumpy!

No surprise that those adjectives are being applied to a perfectly normal-looking size fourteen woman. Is Bridget Jones supposed to be "dumpy" or just average?

Worth Reading

"I know we read a lot of blame directed at overweight people... but I really think blame misses the point. I am sure there are people who are overweight because they didn’t get enough exercise and they made stupid food choices....or because Ronald Reagan decided ketchup was a vegetable... because they tried too many stupid diets and fucked up their bodies and their whole approach to food... because ice cream is really, really good and life is too short not to enjoy really, really good things... because life sucks and food is always there for you. Some people have metabolic disorders and some people just don’t care and are probably every bit as lazy as thin people want to think they are. But none of that matters when you are actually trying to lose weight... Because losing weight is really hard. It doesn’t matter how you got there."

Beth really hit the nail on the head. Go read all the good stuff I edited out.

Or You Could Get A Sheet With A Hole In It

I was meandering through the archives of Dr. Tracy's advice column (I am trying to figure out if she's more Dr. Phil or Dr. Laura) and I had to come on over here and quote this one for you:

"In the meantime, who says you have to only make love naked? I knew a lovely chunky woman who was very very sexy. She had men all the time lined up wanting her. When she made love, she always wore a babydoll nightie which only showed her sexy legs and arms, keeping the parts that were less than slender carefully covered. She was able to make love with gusto, knowing that only her best was showing."

I honestly don't know what to say about this. But I suggest you instead listen to the wisdom of Margaret Cho, who says: "If you care what I look like when you're fucking me, you shouldn't be fucking me in the first place."

No Plane For You!

Ugh. A size twenty-two woman was harassed by Southwest Airlines, who told her that she needed to buy a second seat because she was too fat to fit in just one. Size twenty-two? I've been a size twenty-two and I could certainly fit in a damn airplane seat. I don't know where the line should be drawn here, but size twenty-two is certainly not it. I can only imagine how humiliated I would have been had this happened to me.

Link via Big Fat Blog.