"Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit", says New York Times.

MuleVariationsNYC · 08-19-2008, 01:12 PM

Interesting article in the N.Y. Times today, writing about the growing support for a system of using fitness and activity as a measure of health, rather than weight and BMI. This has generally been my personal approach, but there's been more support for it in the medical literature recently.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/he...em&oref=slogin

out.of.habit · 08-19-2008, 02:35 PM

Great article to post Mr. Variations. I particularly liked this bit:

"Stephen Blair, a co-author of the study and a professor at the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina, said the lesson he took from the study was that instead of focusing only on weight loss, doctors should be talking to all patients about the value of physical activity, regardless of body size.

“Why is it such a stretch of the imagination,” he said, “to consider that someone overweight or obese might actually be healthy and fit?” "

Bandy · 08-19-2008, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by out.of.habit

Great article to post Mr. Variations. I particularly liked this bit:

"Stephen Blair, a co-author of the study and a professor at the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina, said the lesson he took from the study was that instead of focusing only on weight loss, doctors should be talking to all patients about the value of physical activity, regardless of body size.

“Why is it such a stretch of the imagination,” he said, “to consider that someone overweight or obese might actually be healthy and fit?” "

Why do you people insist on questioning science.

Ashley · 08-19-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandy

Why do you people insist on questioning science.

Shut it Bandy. You've got rolls. I have photo evidence.

supersoup · 08-19-2008, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashley

Shut it Bandy. You've got rolls. I have photo evidence.

taquito rolls.

out.of.habit · 08-19-2008, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandy

Why do you people insist on questioning science.

I miss you too, Bandy.

liz (di-va) · 08-19-2008, 04:23 PM

Go old grey lady!

Great article, although I have a suddenly wincing awareness of what might have been avoided in my life and others', if people really thought like that (you know)? But...doesn't matter, it's great.

[Hi Bandy.]

out.of.habit · 08-19-2008, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liz (di-va)

Go old grey lady!

Great article, although I have a suddenly wincing awareness of what might have been avoided in my life and others', if people really thought like that (you know)? But...doesn't matter, it's great.

[Hi Bandy.]

I can't help but feel a lot of hope for SA in that these views were printed in the New York Times. High visibility + credibility.

liz (di-va) · 08-19-2008, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by out.of.habit

I can't help but feel a lot of hope for SA in that these views were printed in the New York Times. High visibility + credibility.

In my opinion, the NYT has for quite a while now--despite the occasional blip (like the Dick Cavett editorial last year)--in terms of feature writing as well as news/science coverage. You get more level-headed, non-hysterical, non-phobic coverage from them that any other paper I know. I don't mean it's perfect, but esp in terms of editorial focus...I dunno, they give me hope!

out.of.habit · 08-19-2008, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liz (di-va)

In my opinion, the NYT has for quite a while now--despite the occasional blip (like the Dick Cavett editorial last year)--in terms of feature writing as well as news/science coverage. You get more level-headed, non-hysterical, non-phobic coverage from them that any other paper I know. I don't mean it's perfect, but esp in terms of editorial focus...I dunno, they give me hope!

I've really got to agree with you there. I think that hope can go a long way toward propelling the whole movement forward both in terms of how we become more hopeful, and what we do with that hope out in the world. It seems like articles such as this can serve as a foundation for more dialogue about acceptance with a wider (ha!) audience.

Ninja Glutton · 08-19-2008, 07:14 PM

Finally, we've got some empiricial reasoning going on. BMI is like judging a book by it's cover. It fails to recognize the individual variations within people.

Jon Blaze · 08-20-2008, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninja Glutton

Finally, we've got some empiricial reasoning going on. BMI is like judging a book by it's cover. It fails to recognize the individual variations within people.

CORRECT! That's a great analogy.

08-19-2008, 01:12 PM	#1
MuleVariationsNYC Math ap Mathonwy Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 329	"Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit", says New York Times. Interesting article in the N.Y. Times today, writing about the growing support for a system of using fitness and activity as a measure of health, rather than weight and BMI. This has generally been my personal approach, but there's been more support for it in the medical literature recently. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/he...em&oref=slogin

08-19-2008, 02:35 PM	#2
out.of.habit Fat Lois Returns Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,094	Great article to post Mr. Variations. I particularly liked this bit: "Stephen Blair, a co-author of the study and a professor at the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina, said the lesson he took from the study was that instead of focusing only on weight loss, doctors should be talking to all patients about the value of physical activity, regardless of body size. “Why is it such a stretch of the imagination,” he said, “to consider that someone overweight or obese might actually be healthy and fit?” " __________________ It's a really long story.

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08-19-2008, 04:23 PM	#7
liz (di-va) nail-throwin mayhem Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 6,517	Go old grey lady! Great article, although I have a suddenly wincing awareness of what might have been avoided in my life and others', if people really thought like that (you know)? But...doesn't matter, it's great. [Hi Bandy.]

08-19-2008, 07:14 PM	#11
Ninja Glutton Film and Music Geek Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Philly Posts: 1,500	Finally, we've got some empiricial reasoning going on. BMI is like judging a book by it's cover. It fails to recognize the individual variations within people.