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.



Red Band Society Missed Opportunity for ABC

This fall ABC launched Red Band Society, a dramedy that focuses on teenagers in the hospital. There's a couple cancer patients, a girl pre-transplant and another with anorexia, Emma. A couple episodes in i knew where things were headed. Emma was nice. Flirty and confident, she was the envy of other girls at her prom.

 "Like, oh My God. I'm jealous how skinny you are."

Make no mistake. This will be damaging to teenagers struggling with eating disorders. It will fuel unhealthy body image and harmful behaviors that contribute to starvation.

I am upset. Mostly for the missed opportunity the network gave away. And for what? How could enabling eating disorder behavior ever be a good idea? Are the producers and writer too obtuse to recognize the negativity and feeling a character like this can have?
I have no answers.

I do not dislike the show. In fact I encourage a more prevalent role of people with eating disorders in media. That's why I have this blog and tell those who ask and listen.
However, this characterization of anorexia if off the mark.

So what really happens?


From Liana Rosenman for Project Heal: 

• Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which means the heart muscle is changing. The risk for heart failure rises as the heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower. 
Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones.

• Muscle loss and weakness.

• Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure.

• Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness. 
Dry hair and skin; hair loss is common. 
Growth of a downy layer of hair—called lanugo—all over the body, including the face, in an effort to keep the body warm.

Eating Disorders are a deadly mental illness. I have personally seen it take away someones life.

If you or someone you know are having problems with weight or think maybe you have an eating disorder it may help to ask someone who knows. Contact the NEDA Helpline @ (800) 931-2237  Monday-Thursday from 9AM to 9PM Eastern Time and Friday 9AM to 5PM.

Or click here to find help on their site.

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