The USA also has problem concerning weight and health: too many people becoming overly obese. Too many Americans, including young children, struggle with weight management and loss. The CDC reported the obesity rate is 20 percent or higher in all 50states. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judy-farah/why-are-we-getting-fatter_b_1403974.html) Judy Farah, a writer for the Huffington Post, states that we have become too lazy and sedentary. We live such busy lives and are fixated on our TVs or computers when we get home that we have not time to work out or get a good meal. She also proposes that people like sweets and eating, which is habitual. Dieting is not, so even if we do go on a diet, we quickly revert. Farah also found that companies are “looking at state, city and country obesity rates before deciding whether to move or relocate” because obesity often entails more sick days, high insurance costs, and loss of productivity. Farah concludes her article by suggesting diet and exercise.
But to what extremes do we go to in order to become thin? There are so many diets out there that are “proven” to work that is becomes impossible to find the best one, or try them all. Then there are fad diets, which come and go like seasons, such as a detox diet. (http://www.usustatesman.com/fad-diets-may-cause-weight-loss-but-are-they-safe-1.2729360#.T4rPRmbgJQY) Loaded with water, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper, this concoction is supposed to rid the body of toxins at a faster rate than the liver already does. However, after drinking only this for four days, participates felt sick and disgusting. How is a cleanser supposed to finish the diet if he or she becomes groggy and nauseous?
Recently I found another article about a mother who put her then six-year-old child on a diet. Dara-Lynn Weiss decided to put her daughter, Bea, on a modified Weight Watchers program. She documented Bea’s weight loss and published the article in March’s Vogue magazine (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2012/03/moms-diet-for-7-year-old- daughter-in-vogue-sparks-backlash/). What was most disappointing in this article was Weiss’ method of dieting her daughter, which were to starve and humiliate Bea, and later of course 2 cupcakes herself. It was also noted in this article from a few doctors and specialists that pressuring a child can spark even more problems such as emotional feelings towards good foods and bad foods which can cause eating disorders. Yoni Freedhoff M.D, agrees and asks if adults have problems with weight management and diet, how can we expect young children to handle it? His solution: parents. By showing and teaching parents to maintain a healthy lifestyle, the children will follow (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yoni-freedhoff/childhood-obesity_b_1399203.html).
But there are repercussions to constant pressuring the skinny image; there are also plenty of people out there that are underweight. What do we say to them? Apparently, according to some designers, we say nothing. In the article When Is Thin Too Thin from 2006, “designers…seem to prize an even thinner frame to display their clothes.” But they also acknowledge that their frail look is harmful and life threatening (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/21/fashion/21MODELS.html?pagewanted=all). I never knew that gaunt and boney was the new beautiful.
Yet, I also thought that the new look is not just to be slim, but to also be healthy and fit. With this, I suggest another reason why we look the way we do: the media. If we are not sitting around watching their every move and idolizing them, we are criticizing their weight. For example, Lady Gaga is currently under fire for her tweet with the hash tag “#PopSingersDontEat” about dreaming about a cheeseburger while eating a salad. In this article, (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/11/popstarsdonteat-lady-gaga_n_1418722.html) the author notes that Gaga has “publicly opened up about her struggle with bulimia and urged young women to cultivate healthy body image.” But it seems like she is now promotion eating disorders? How are young people suppose to interpret this confusion? To add to the mix, take a look at this one article about Jennifer Lawrence, who plays Katniss in the popular movie The Hunger Games. Contrary to other articles that criticize people for their slim figures, this article says that Lawrence was “too heavy” and had too much baby fat. These criticisms are “toxic” and “dangerous” to girls. Mind you that Lawrence was jumping and running around on set and to prepare for the role (http://abcnews.go.comand/blogs/entertainment/2012/03/jennifer-lawrences-body-criticism-toxic-psychologists-say/)
So, who do we believe is right and what do we do?
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