Obesity makes your world smaller

        I've been saying for a very long time that we need to stop focusing on what the body looks like and instead start focusing on what the body can do. So what does that mean? It means that health can be achieved or not achieved at various sizes. There is no perfect BMI, no perfect number on the scale, no perfect way to look. As we shift the discussion of health and obesity, we should be looking at the totality of an individuals life. First we need to look at the important numbers: A1C, cholesterol, blood pressure, resting heart rate, cardiac risk factor, hormone and vitamin levels, physical activity levels, etc...  and secondly, we need to look at what the individual can or cannot do, or rather their quality of life. Quality of life includes both their physical abilities and their psychological state. Once all of these things are examined, we can get a clearer picture of a person's sate of health.

         This quote from Roxane Gay's book, Hunger, is a great example of how obesity is affecting her quality of life and making her world smaller. There are things she wants to do, but she cannot. Really think about that for a moment. If being obese is stopping her from doing the things she wants to do, then it is unhealthy and that has nothing to do with what her body looks like, but rather what her body simply cannot do ... because it is sick and unhealthy.
      Obesity affects our quality of life in many ways, each one making our world smaller. Over the years, I have spoken with many woman struggling with obesity, these are some of the things I have heard:

July 2019 - A 3 mile hike at King/Benson's reserve in
Rhode Island revealed this amazing view known as
"Spruce Row". Simply breathtaking. 

• "I don't go to the beach anymore because I am uncomfortable and embarrassed. My husband takes our children to the beach and I stay home. I used to love the beach."
• "My friends go to concerts and to see shows at the theater. They always invite me, but I always come up with an excuse as to why I can't go. The real reason I don't go is because I'm afraid I want be able to fit in the seats."
• "At parties, I sneak sweets into the bathroom where I eat them alone."

       When we focus on the important health numbers and what our bodies can do, the bottom line is this: if you are obese but your numbers are within safe ranges and you honestly are physically able to do all the things you want to do, then rock on with your badass self! However, if you are obese and your numbers are not in safe ranges and/or you are physically unable to do the things you want to do, then you are physically and psychologically unhealthy and that needs to change. The good news is that the body is remarkably resilient and when you begin to focus on creating health, you can reverse much of the damage done to the body by obesity, including once again making your world as big and grand as you want it to be. After all, you are important, you are enough most of all you are worthy of a healthy, long, high quality life!