Great WashPo Piece on Fat & Fit
Ryan tipped me to "Adding Weight to a Workout", an all-around solid piece on being fat and fit.
While there's one questionable quote from Arthur Frank, medical director of the George Washington University Weight Management Program, calling fat a "disease", it does balance that with some input from Glenn Gaesser. The article focuses on a number of fitness instructors who are deemed "obese" or "overweight", and it's pretty positive.
This is worth discussion:
Still, given medical experts' concern about Americans' increasing girth, some in the fitness industry question whether an overweight instructor or trainer is an appropriate role model, or a marketable one.
"I don't think a lot of people would want to spend a lot of time with someone in the gym who doesn't live the fitness lifestyle," said Jim Bell, president and founder of the International Fitness Professionals Association, a Florida organization that certifies fitness instructors and trainers. "Fitness centers are about fitness."
I trust that everyone can see that Bell has a big vested interest here, as his organization has had to sink a lot of time and money into portraying the "ideal" fitness instructor... er, sorry, someone who lives the "fitness lifestyle". (I hate stupid marketing terms. Hate. Hate. Hate.) The shortsightedness displayed here is unfortunate, though, because I'd think an organization willing to throw down the gauntlet and open its doors to fit people of all sizes would do better.
The Devil is in the Details | Ratings Gold
Posted by paul on April 22, 2007
I just wrote Jim Bell an email.
"I, for one, would love to have a variety of body shapes represented at my gym. Seeing a variety of body shapes makes health seem like the goal over thinness. Which is it that Bell is trying to promote? There is a difference between fit and thin and with the marketing credentials Bell possesses, he really should know that making more people feel comfortable coming into the gym will result in more people going to the gym. Seeing health at a variety of weights is inspirational. "
As a former fitness instructor, I took the "ideal fitness instructor" idea too much to heart, and quit because I felt I didn't fill the role. Now I have a different job, but I wonder what would have happened if I had had positive feedback from students who took my class *because* I represented another body type.
Have these "fitness lifestyle" folks ever considered that maybe the reason some of us fatties don't join gyms - maybe don't even work out - is because we are SICK AND TIRED of the subtle, wordless disapproval when we show up at the gym?
I mean - it's like, in order to exercise, you have to look like you never need to exercise.
I work out an hour a day - it helps control my insomnia and I generally feel healthier doing it - but under no circumstances would I ever consider myself as leading a "fitness lifestyle." That sounds kind of like one of the one-dimensional Barbie variants: "Fitness Lifestyle Barbie!" Comes with spandex outfit and gym shoes. Real clothing, job, friends, and brain sold separately.