by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: June 06, 2009

It seems that in our society a person's size and weight is regarded as the most significant determinant of a person's state of health. We are constantly told about the impending obesity crisis, and how the number of individuals becoming obese is getting out of control,. We are frequently informed that this will not only have extremely serious health consequences for the individuals concerned, but also for the economic and social fabric of society. Consequently, being slim is perceived as the ideal which individuals should strive for, but little attention is paid to the fact that being slim doesn't automatically mean you're healthy. Overweight people are not the only ones who can acquire bad habits.

Being naturally skinny may be a result of having a fast metabolism or the fact that you are extremely active and calorie control isn't an issue for you since you have always followed a balanced diet, thus have never really had to think about your weight. However, for some people remaining skinny is more of a struggle and they use unhealthy methods to stay that way. They might choose to control the number of calories they consume by skipping meals, by bingeing and purging, by exercising excessively, or by using appetite suppressants. Therefore, we shouldn't simply assume that just because a person is skinny they have a healthy lifestyle.

Indeed, since weight control depends on balancing the number of calories you put into your body with those being burned, there is plenty of opportunity to eat what you like and still remain slim; it does mean, though, that you will have to watch your portion sizes or exercise more, unless you are lucky enough to have a fast metabolism. It is possible for people to eat a high-fat, junk food laden diet and remain the same size, but you won't be getting all the nutrients your body needs, and you're at greater risk of developing high cholesterol levels, clogging up your arteries and succumbing to heart disease as you get older. More immediate effects include a lack of energy, the inability to concentrate, and mood swings.

If you are unhealthily skinny you may find that your periods stop, and that you are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis, weakening your bones and making them more likely to break. It is therefore essential that you get enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet, as well as getting regular exercise to reduce the risks of succumbing to this disease. Indeed, you should aim to eat a balanced diet whatever size you are so that you have energy and so that you are getting everything your body needs.

Just because you're skinny doesn't mean you don't engage in activities which are bad for your health, such as binge drinking, smoking and drug taking. Even if you are skinny you can still have poor self-image and low confidence levels, and may even find that your relationship with food is affected by how you feel about yourself.

Overweight people seem to be a given a hard time since the assumption is that because they weigh more than is considered good for them they must be living an unhealthy lifestyle, whilst skinny people seem to be able to get away with following unhealthy practices since there may be no visible signs that they are doing so. However, there are plenty of overweight individuals who do make an effort to look after their health; eating well and exercising regularly, just as there are skinny individuals who do the exact opposite. Therefore, people's weight doesn't always provide an accurate assessment of their overall health and fitness levels.

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