Strive for lean -- your body will thank you

by Jacki Donaldson (Subscribe to Jacki Donaldson's posts)
Nov 4th 2007 8:00AM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment

There's been a lot of weighty discussion about my recent Catherine Zeta-Jones post. More than 130 comments have been left, all of them passionately spelling out thoughts and opinions about celebrities and weight loss. You see, the actress has recently trimmed down her already-svelte figure, and people are noticing. Some media folk say she's anorexic; some say "leave the poor girl alone." Your comments echo these sentiments.

Now that I've poured through each and every comment on the topic of Ms. Zeta-Jones, I want you to know how I feel about thinness.

I think thin is OK. In fact, I tend to think the whole "too skinny" problem is not as bad as the obesity problem facing our nation. Now I don't by any means promote skeletal pursuits, and it worries me to no end when girls and boys alike are swallowed up by eating disorders. But right now, at this very moment, I truly believe the fat we carry on our bodies is so much more dangerous than our lack of it. There are countless posts right here on this blog that warn of obesity and its inherent dangers. Other posts reflect on the value of eating a calorie-restricted diet. Those who eat less live longer, say the experts. And now, we learn from a new landmark study that excess fat is linked to six different cancers. I feel even more secure in my position now.

I admit, when I see celebrities wasting away before my eyes, it makes me sad. I don't like the pressure to be thin for reasons of vanity, or for jobs, or for control. I promote thinness for only one reason: health. In a society where fat will almost surely kill us, I think aspiring for a lean body is the healthiest choice each of us can make.

And that's my two cents.

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Comments (3)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

angie 11-04-2007 @ 3:32PM

I don't think there is anything wrong with being skinny. If you take a look around there are more fat people than there are skinny people. Being fat has become the norm. I am 5'3" and weigh 123 lbs. I have been told I look anorexic (I'm not even sure I spelled that right) but I feel the ones that are saying that about me are doing it just to make themselves feel better. Truth be known I eat more than they do. I eat every 3 hours. But obviously what I choose to eat and the fact that I get exercise is why they are overweight and I am not. So all I have to say to people who automatically think you have a an eating disorder instead of criticizing my why don't you get off your fat butt and do something about YOUR weight problem.

JoLynn Braley 11-05-2007 @ 3:31PM

Hi Jacki,

I'm all about being healthy and fit rather than skinny. Anorexia isn't healthy, however being on the thin side is different than being anorexic. For example, in Angie's comment (above), based on her height and weight, she sounds very far from being anorexic, I don't know why anyone would call her anorexic. Now if she were 6' tall and 123, that would be a different story.

I completely agree with you that if it comes to being on the thin side v.s. being overweight, thin is healthier, As Long As the body is healthy.

One other thing.... I think that what happens a lot is that people look at an obese person and see only the fat on the outside. That isn't even what the biggest problem of obesity is....when you're overweight, you've also got fat around and on your inner organs. So, it's not just about saying that obesity doesn't look good and thin looks better, we really are talking about health, and that fat isn't healthy....the human body wasn't meant to be living with mounds of fat on it, that's why it's so hard on the joints and causes so many health issues like you linked to in your post. ;)

JoLynn
http://www.thefitshack.com