Schools give harmful BMI report cards

Most of us remember high school. Those who don't decided to give students body mass index report cards.

In short, some schools, in an effort to help students be aware of what they eat and weigh, started administering BMI tests to students. The tests are then sent home to parents with a report on suggested eating habits and lifestyle changes.

The Examiner does a great job explaining why this is a bad idea, citing bullies and shaming and encouraging eating disorders.

The root of this problem is the false belief that BMI tests are at all scientifically accurate in determining health.


Prince Fielder,
Professional Baseball Player,  BMI 37.3 Very Obese

Developed over 150 years ago, the body mass index measures only that. In case you've never had one. They take grips of your body and measure it with a caliper. These measurements are then set into a standard equation with ones weight and height.

The problem is the equation is set up for average built females roughly 5'11". he farther one deviates from the mean height the more inaccurate the information becomes. For example, Professional Football player Eli Manning, at 218lbs. 6'3" has a BMI of 27.2. Overweight.

Most demeaning of this measure of body mass is it's suggested correlation with health. This is so ingrained with society that some insurance lobbies have suggested using BMI in paid premium determinations. Having those classified as overweight pay more accounting for the research that shows they're increased risk.

Oddly, in 1998 the NIH and CDC reclassified overweight BMI from 27.8 to 25, effectively overnight making 29 million Americans overweight. They were all healthy the day before, now they're told to lose weight. This done with no concern how they feel or perceive themselves -- no medical check-up with a primary physician. Is that something we want done to our kids?

Specifically, consider my case. At my lowest, most malnourished weight I was 175lbs. I'm 6'3". The BMI chart, at that height and weight, set me directly in the center on the "normal" BMI range.
Consider then, my psychologist and doctors trying to tell me I need treatment for my eating disorder when I can clearly see my body mass index is within normal range.

Now, extrapolate that information to the hundreds of thousands of at risk teens receiving these measurements at school.

Faulty information and science (in this case BMI) make terrible way-points to a healthy society. As long as our culture continues to yolk health and weight together, progress will be slow and harmful.

One chart to rule them all.



Eat less. Exercise more

A common conversation with my brain goes like this:

"You need to eat before you workout so you have energy to burn."
"So I need to eat so I can go to the gym to lose weight the I gained by eating?"
"Yep."
"But if I don't eat then I don't have to go to the gym to lose weight I gained by eating."
"No."
"But if I don't eat I'll lose weight. And if I don't eat and workout I'll lose weight faster."
"No"
"But if I don't eat then ..."
"No."
"Why?"
"Science."
"Damnit, brain. You're right."

As a culture struggling with obesity we're told by media to eat healthier (read as "less") and exercise more. Generally, that's true. But for a growing percentage of Americans it's a recipe for disaster. A piece in Outside Magazine outlined, for one group, the difficulty and danger that comes from following common advice spewed from troves of lifestyle and fitness magazines.

The author told the story of a man training for a marathon, who, despite following a rigid balanced diet and daily mileage goals, was not getting any of the numerous benefits of an active lifestyle. His consulting physician said his reduced sex drive and chronic fatigue were due to eating too little, which led to a hormore deficiency and sent his body into a starvation state. The fix, while seeming counter intuitive is, with a basic knowledge of metabolism, frankly straight forward, eat more.

My mind can understand these facts but lacks the trust to use them, because a more sinister truth is below the surface.

Ten years ago when I was at the start of my eating disorder I ate very little and exercised twice a day. I lost weight. It worked, I lost weight. Years later, I did the exact same thing again and lost weight. It's how I've always done this, in a very unhealthy and dangerous way usually ending with me postponing my career and education malnourished in the hospital.

Now, on finishing substance abuse treatment, I've gained much weight -- more than my healthy weight set by a dietitian. So I'm in a position to legitimately lose weight.

This time I'm doing it right. Yes, I'll argue within myself. And it may be a struggle at time. But it's worth getting healthy the right way.

Wheelchair Awareness

The second time in treatment for an eating disorder. I was in a wheelchair for several days and our group was going on a community outing for a snack. Driving to the shop, another patient looks over to me and asks what my story will be.
"My story?" I asked.
 "Yeah," she said. "You know, why you're in the wheelchair. Last week when we went to lunch for outing and I was still in a chair I told them I had heart issues."
"And I was in a skiing accident," a emaciated girl, no more than 14 years old in treatment her first time, chimed in.
I was floored. It never occur to me to lie. I have an eating disorder. They are very common and individuals require professional help and support for recovery.

It occured to me then. I need to talk about my experience often; not be afraid or shamed to hide what I'm going through. In fact, often when I share my story in a large group there will be at least one or two individuals who also share their struggle with an eating disorder.

And that's all I can do. Not be ashamed or scared and tell what I know. And the more I talk and tell people about eating disorders the likelier it is someone who needs help will come forward and tell a friend or loved one.

If you are reading this and feel the need to talk to someone or just want to know more about signs and symptoms please contact the National Eating Disorder Association at www.nationaleatingdisorders.org or call the helpline at 1-800-931-2237

Jeans and Cyclists... and logic bullets!

Admittedly my physical self-=perception maybe already be a little off, but here's the problem as I've heard it from cyclists other than myself. Straight leg and some regular fit jeans or dress pants do not fit. The waist and length are always fine. It's the hip area that's tight. A lot of cyclists have large quadricep muscles in their legs, making for a tighter than normal fit.

Now, I'm probably the only one who cares this much. I'm certain other bikers just deal with it (I don't know how), but it's terrible to comfortably wear only baggy pants. I'm not some punk teeneager skating about disrupting the establishment.

For me, in the past though less recently, it's a matter of contention with my eating disorder. When I wear a pair of jeans that don't fit my theighs I fear I'm getting fat. Then I start pinching what I believe (falsely) to be excess fat on my legs wondering how the hell it got there and how much I have to workout to lose it.

Reality eventually kicks in and I smirk at the thought of cycling to lose size, as it is muscle not fat, on my legs. It irrational that I would expect to lose leg size when I'm in love with biking everywhere -- to work, shopping, recreation -- and in the process make my muscles more effective. Meaning noticably more defined and slightly larger. I try not to call myself an idiot, but with such a glaring example of body distortion and false reasoning it is difficult.

I fight with reason. Firing logic bullets at fallacies. Boom! Suck it up and tell myself how helpful my legs are. Shit, I've earned these. Cycling to and from work 12 months a year for the last four years. I'm thankful for my biker legs. haha that does sond kinda goofy... but it's true.

If you're reding this and have the same issue as me; or maybe your arms don't fit sleeves well; or there is another physical definition you have from work or activities. Next time, before you complain about fit or look, join me in acceptance.
Jeans don't fit? Whatever, I'd rather be thankful I have muscle and skill to continue on of my great passions in life.

On days when I feel vulnerable to my eating disorder I look down at my legs and say, "Hell yeah I made it to work with my own two legs, fueled by an adequate breakfast."

... said the sailor to the tattoo

Ask and I'll gladly show you. There's no reason to lift up my shirt sleeve, rub my arm like my tattoos are going to come off. Yes, they're real. And some have significant personal meaning, but I don't feel like telling any stranger that asks.

It's great that people are curious and enjoy looking at my arm. I think it looks cool too, but I the idea wasn't to entertain. Sometimes I prefer to wear longsleeves. Not because I'm embarassed, but because I want to keep them to myself for a while.

Ideas of identity, purpose and motivation keep traveling to the front of my mind, they take up residence there, set up camp, light a fire and sing songs. Unfortunately I need that room for other things like short term recall and quick reference. So I give them physical form. An image, applied to the skin, which frees room in my conscious mind. An expression that cannot be continually held, but can be forever displayed.

That's why I have tattoos.
They free me. They clear my mind. They make life easier. Like a to-do list of thoughts I can ruminate upon and examine at my leisure without worry they will disappear if I let them go. There always to never be forgotten. I love it.

Thank You, Ms. Lizzie MIller

Confident, attractive, happy. Nothing describes her better.
Thank you, Ms. Miller.
OK, I know I'm more than belated on getting this out. I was just doing some research and saw it again.

The stark contrast between her photo and other common low-weight models is that she looks happy and doesn't have this look of self-justified entitled confidence. She appears sure of herself. And that, as many studies will ensure me, is more attractive than some contrived, societal given label of worth.

Like the mona lisa, in as far as enormity of social comparisons, (i know, it's a micro-scale comparison) Lizzie Miller has given women much to contemplate about themselves. To Appeal to other women? Or, to appeal to what men truly find attractive. I believe that's the dilemma. A social v. self scenario that has manifested in the form of indignation v. intelligence.

look at her thighs. look at her neck. her abdomen. then look at her genuine smile. her whole body. her healthy skin. her soft hips.

the difference is adjectives. and the adjectives give emotion, feeling.
thank you, Ms. Miller for being a conduit of emotion. Something so genuine and unfamiliar. That's unfortunate.

But may we consider ourselves fortunate, as we are all imperfect, and within that share the extraordinary, prevalent nature of self-worth. being defined only to ones self (and objective influences). as Ms. Miller is to my dream of confident, attractive, happy women everywhere I am hopeful my enthusiasm of realistic feminine ideals spreads equally and generously.