by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: March 11, 2010

In America, about two-thirds of the population are overweight, with a third of these actually falling within the obese range. Over the past few decades obesity rates have increased substantially, reflecting other changes in society that have taken place and affected people’s ability to control their weight. As the number of people getting fatter has increased, so obesity seems to spread even more, since the stigma attached to being overweight has subsided somewhat. This doesn’t change the fact that most people would prefer to be slim and are prepared to try anything to lose a few pounds, though.

Indeed, perhaps it is this societal obsession with weight that is part of the problem. Not so long ago, few people would have even known what BMI meant, let alone what their BMI was. Nowadays, though, the BMI (Body Mass Index) is bandied about as if it is the sole determinant of whether you’re fat or thin, healthy or unhealthy. There are plenty of online calculators to choose from which will let you know if you need to lose weight. Often there will be advertisements on the page, which if you click on will lead you to a ‘helpful’ weight-loss site.

Weight perhaps wasn’t so much of an issue in the past because people generally led healthier lives. They didn’t need to step on the scales to tell them whether they were at their ideal weight, or not. Lifestyles have changed, though, with people working long hours in sedentary jobs, getting very little exercise, but eating more than enough food to keep them going. The BMI seems to have become a convenient way to assess whether you’re a healthy weight, or not, and thus the implications for your overall health and well-being.

Fewer people were overweight in the past because they simply led more active lives, having to work in more physically demanding jobs and generally being less reliant on technology to do things for them. Since people were generally healthier, there was little need to categorise and divide people into different weight groups. Now, though, whenever you go to see your doctor you may be asked to step on the scales, whether your health issue is actually related to your weight, or not.

Consequently, a great deal of attention is being paid to people’s weight, which obviously makes people more conscious of their size. Instead of motivating people to lose a few pounds sensibly, though, many end up using ridiculous weight-loss methods which merely seem to exacerbate the problem, when the only way for people to remain a healthy weight is to lead a lifestyle that facilitates this.

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