Burning The Scale

Study Shows Not Everyone Wants To Be Healthy

by Claire on November 27th, 2007

In a Cornell study of 310 college students (ScienceDaily), some confusing (although perhaps understandable) results emerged.

Males were mixed, with some wanting to lose weight and some wanting to gain weight. However, almost all the women wanted to lose weight. Those who were normal weight generally wanted to be thinner, as well as half of underweight women.

Here’s the interesting part - Two-thirds of those who were overweight wanted to lose weight, but they wanted a weight that was still above a healthy BMI.

Why were the overweight women (and men) setting their sites lower (or higher, so to speak)? Perhaps for those who’ve been overweight their whole lives, it wouldn’t feel natural to be “thin.” Or maybe they just think they could never achieve it and eat normally.

Whatever the reason, it’s clear America has a warped view of what is healthy. With over 60 percent of us overweight, we view those who aren’t as “thin” and those who are very thin as “anorexic.” Would we have done the same 40 years ago? I don’t think so.

What are your weight goals, and do you think they are realistic? Let me know in the comments!

Claire

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