Certain weight loss situations require more than a good diet and exercise plan.
In the case of a person whose waist circumference is in the danger zone (the deadly spare tire), extra tests are required to rule out metabolic syndrome that leads to heart disease and other illnesses.
The childhood obesity epidemic is on everyone's minds right now. Helping overweight children requires special approaches at home, at school and throughout society.
Eating disorders, especially among young women, are almost encouraged by society's emphasis on thin women in the media. Body image is also becoming a bigger issue for young men who are trying to look "right." We all need to learn to appreciate that our different shapes are cause for celebration and that the world would be boring if we were all shaped like plastic dolls.
See also:
- Changing That Deadly Spare Tire (Metabolic Syndrome)
- Eating Disorders FAQ
- Body Image and You, for teens and younger girls
Posted October 2002
Updated February 2010
