Thin=Unhealthy?

[Kathi]

I'm not trying to start a war here but when I read posts from women complaining about their weight someone comes up with the comment "I'd rather be my weight than some unhealthy, thin person". The assumption being that thin is unhealthy.

Yes, some do smoke, have eating disorders or have some other illnesses that contribute to their thinness but one source I read says that 70% of thin people are naturally thin. If this is the case, I wonder why thin is considered unhealthy?

Doesn't lifestyle and genes contribute to good health as much as body size?

[Tater]

I have been thin all my life. My mother thought I was going to be in size 6X forever! In fact, my family took to calling me 'Skinny Jenny' and still does every so often. I was blessed in that my mother cooked healthy meals and passed those skills on to me. I certainly do think lifestyle has a lot to do with good health. I have always been active from participating in high school sports, to scuba diving, being in the military, running and cycling. I don't like to sit still.

I have found, however, that my thin-ness bothers some people. 'You need to eat more', they say, or 'Why do you bike (or run) so much, you don't need to exercise, you're so thin already.'

[RoadRaven]

Hey there Kathi

I don't think those comments are aimed at healthy thin, or not-overweight people.

My perception is that a comment such as

"I'd rather be my weight than some unhealthy, thin person"

is a rebellion and a defiance of the social value that manufacturers and advertisers try to sell women that if they can just get thin everything will be ok.

I know I am a consistent advocate on this board for women not to get obsessed with losing weight, because weight loss and being thin doesn't always equate to being healthy.

However, healthy, steady sensible weight loss does equate to increased healthiness.

There are also people who's metabolism is just quicker, and burns fuel so quick it never gets a chance to be stored. My closest friend was like that. Three of my hand spans could fit around her waist. When we ate she would eat three burgers to my one... she was always hungry and always skinny - but very healthhy - and always getting hassled cause people thought she was dieting or vomiting...

The thinness=healthy story is one sold to women who are not size 8-10, and completely overlooks the fact that healthy comes in all shapes and sizes. The trick is finding the right state of healthy-ness without deciding that you need to look like a Parisian cat walk model to be haelthy/fit...

[SadieKate]

I know thin women who think they are healthy because they hit the right BMI numbers. If you're thin and have no muscle tone or cardio fitness, you ain't healthy. There are lots of thin people with sky high cholesterol. In my mind, thin doesn't make you healthy. It is simply a matter of genetics or eating habits and really doesn't have much to do with health.

[Grog]

As a rule of thumb, I say it's better to be big and active than thin and sedentary.

Most thin women that can be seen in the media are dangerously thin, for both physical and psychological reasons.

Still, it makes sense to be preoccupied with your weight if you are way above (or below) your BMI. But it's not weight in itself that matters. Weight is a poor and limiting indicator of health...

[caligurl]

i think i'm the only person who GAINED weight (not just on the scale.. but my clothes too) after i took up cycling...

and no... it's not all muscle.. it's what i put into my mouth since i think i "can" since i ride... well.. WRONGO!!!!!!!!!! lol!

i do know at one point i was too thin... WAY too hard to maintain... NO cheating.. AT ALL... counting every little morsel... not matter how few the calories.... i gained a few pounds... ok... no problem.... i was still thin for me....

then i started cheating just about every weekend... UGH! now.. i'm MY opinion... i'm a cow.... cuz i have that extra 4-5 pounds over what i've decided my "ideal" is.... and a lot of my clothes are too tight! (and yes... 4-5 pounds on someone who is 5'3" is a LOT! and granted... a lot of them were bought when i was on my severe eating regime!)

[Dianyla]

i think i'm the only person who GAINED weight (not just on the scale.. but my clothes too) after i took up cycling...

Oh, no you're not!

Last year training for the STP I gained about 7 lbs of muscle and another 7 lbs of fat. Training = pigout time.

[caligurl]

ok.... i actually feel better now, then! (misery loves company!)

[mtkitchn]

You two aren't alone! I've been eating like a horse ever since I started cycling, and although I work out 8 hr/wk more than I used to, I've gained five pounds of flab around my belly and can't fit into my clothes any more. And I'm 5'2" caligurl, so I know how you feel!
I'm also someone who hates the mall, so I don't want to have to go buy new bigger clothes....
I'd actually rather be a healthy person who likes my body. I've never been one to make any comments about unhealthy thin people. I wish everyone would get on the healthy bandwagon (health insurance costs would probably go down)! But I'm preaching to the choir here!

[bikerchick68]

hmmm... now see I read that comment to mean:

I'd rather be my weight than some thin, UNHEALTHY person...

and I agree with that statement assuming the person is naturally thin and unhealthy... I have friends who are naturally thin, and very unhealthy. Horrible eating habits etc... so yeah, I'd rather be my weight and very athletic than be them, who are uncomfortable even doing 3 mile walks but wear size 6 jeans.

All that being said, I'd rather be THIN AND HEALTHY... but alas, THAT is not the case... LOL I don't think I could squeeze even my left leg into a size 6 jean...

Cali- ugh! me too... my quads are bigger, mostly from the bike... but the rest of me is bigger, mostly from the fig newtons

[betagirl]

I'm thin, always have been, but too can gain weight when it's cycling season. Most of it is muscle, but yeah I've been known to take in way more calories than I burned on a ride This season I'm trying to be better about it, but we'll see.

Anyway, I'm 5'10 and a size 6 or 8 depending on where I'm at on the weight spectrum that I seem to go up and down. When you're this tall, it's easy to look that lanky thin that can be scary. I get downright boney sometimes, but I've never been "under weight" according to BMI standards, etc. And because I have crohn's I'm always keeping an eye on my weight which can slide off like crazy if I have a bad month or 2. You should hear some of the comments I've gotten, especially before I was more open about my illness. Now people know or I tell them why I've lost weight. But a lot of people assume you have some sort of eating disorder or the like. I agree that at the heart of the "you need to lose weight" or "you're too skinny" comments is this insecurity many people have about what's the ideal. But the definition of the ideal doesn't take into account other healthy habits like eating right and exercising. It's all about appearances.

[Duck on Wheels]

... And because I have crohn's I'm always keeping an eye on my weight which can slide off like crazy if I have a bad month or 2...

Yep. That thing. In my worst Crohn's period (so far) I weighed 50kg (110 pounds). At 5'9" I was way too skinny! I had pretty much no muscles left, looked like a Holocaust survivor. And boy did it bug me to see diet diet diet in every goldarned newspaper and magazine! Nowhere did I see articles on how to *gain* weight! So now I am more at ease being a dozen kilos overweight than being right on the razor edge of my "ideal" weight. I'd be too scared of how I'd manage the next flareup. But I'm also cautious about assuming what either thin or round means in terms of other peoples' health. If you're active, feel good, and feel good about your body, then you're probably doing ok weightwise. At least, that's what I try to remind myself if I catch myself being judgemental.

[betagirl]

In my worst Crohn's period (so far) I weighed 50kg (110 pounds). At 5'9" I was way too skinny! I had pretty much no muscles left, looked like a Holocaust survivor.

Dang, 110 at 5'9? The lowest I got was 130. I weighed 165 when I got sick, so to lose 35lbs in about 2 months scared the crap out of a lot of people I know
My favorite comment when I was losing was from a co-worker "wow what diet are YOU on? You look great!" I wanted to say so badly "the 25 trips to the can a day diet. Go eat an entire container of prunes and experience the joy." But she didn't know and I was just bitter.

Good to see you're doing well.

[hirakukibou]

I've actually been on both ends of the spectrum. I am 5' 2" and have weighed way too much at 220 lbs and now on the thin side at 115 lbs. I gained weight from a medication I was taking and then lost weight on another medication -- both for depression. I do know the pressure to be thin in this culture is crippling for many women. I get angry at the thin message which is touted rather than the be healthy message. My daughter is eleven and active and talking about being too fat. It's sad to me. I think the antidote is to be active at whatever weight. And cycling has been great for me. I have never been an athlete before prefering to stretch my intellect before challenging my body. So this is new for me and a good challenge.

[allabouteva]

Mmmm, I'm like many of you.. my weight fluctuates. I've learned that exercise really makes a difference to my metabolism. I'm now about 125lb and about 5'3", but have been up to 165+lb. I like who I am and I'm learning to like my body.

I've been all the possible combos:

Thin and unhealthy
Thin and healthy
Fat and unhealthy
Fat and healthy

I think we take too much stock on appearances. But I'm guilty of this too. So I can't preach.