Although weight is not a measure of how healthy or unhealthy someone is, maintaining a desirable weight and body composition is important for a healthy lifestyle.
What weight should a person have? How can someone determine whether their weight is healthy for their height? How can someone tell whether their weight is endangering their health?
These questions seem so straightforward, but depending on who you ask, the answers might vary greatly in complexity.
People frequently make the mistake of looking to fashion when attempting to determine the optimum weight.
Everyone aspires to a particular physique or even a certain weight, but before beginning any weight management programme, it is crucial to be aware of some crucial weight reduction rules.
The process of being ready to lose weight is more mental than physical, so how you go about it counts.
- Self-acceptance could be the first step toward making beneficial changes. Remember that trends come and go and that our society's values for various body types fluctuate over time. Lose weight because you care about your health and well-being, not because you're troubled by current fashion trends.
- Never limit your food intake to less than what is necessary to meet your nutrient needs. Restricting calories shouldn't mean restricting nutrients. A healthy body has the ideal ratio of fat to lean tissue to suit the needs of the body. Any diet that restricts nutrient consumption ought to be considered fraudulent.
- Become physically active because it will improve your health and make you feel better, not because it will help you lose weight. Being active will aid in enhancing metabolism, which is crucial for weight loss in particular.
- Recognise and honour non-scale victories. The scale's reading shouldn't be the lone indicator of successful growth. Appreciate the fact that, among other things, your attitude has improved, your medical markers are improving, and your clothes are fitting better than before. In this way, you'll be inspired to keep going on your path to a better self.
- Understand your BMI and other significant medical indicators. Remember that BMI does not reflect body composition but rather measures of height and weight. Make the extra effort to be aware of your cholesterol profile and overall body fat. A normal BMI does not necessarily indicate good health.
- Give up dieting for weight loss. Make healthy food and exercise a permanent part of your life. Accepting the fact that there isn't a magic diet also helps.
- Last but not least, get professional counselling from someone who can help you improve your self-esteem without having to worry about your weight.
Even if our society were to regard fat as attractive, obesity would still be a significant risk factor for many life-threatening diseases because weight is not a reliable indicator of how healthy a person is.
For this reason, longevity and good health should take precedence above looks when calculating a person's ideal weight and level of body fat.
A person should ideally have just enough fat to meet their fundamental needs without going overboard and endangering their health.
Never forget that it's kind to appreciate oneself and other people for things other than their physical appearance.
Recognise that making assumptions about someone's weight is just as destructive as making assumptions about their colour, religion, or gender.
Chege is a registered and licensed nutritionist based in Kenya, proficient in medical nutrition therapy.
Twitter: @LucyChegeM
