Fat and Fit Hits the Airwaves

Well, at least they're covering it. But still, I am tired of the "you must be thin no matter what" mentality of the U.S. govt. That idea is very conducive to eating disorders.

The Washington Post article ended with the assertion that being more fit (at any weight) is better than being unfit (at any weight) but that being fit AND thin is better so people should still try to lose weight -- AND the assertion that the 2 aren't mutually exclusive. But right above that they quoted Joanne Ikeda speaking to exactly that question ... i.e., that people on weight loss diets are eating so few calories that they don't have the energy to exercise -- which is what would be better for them to be doing in the first place. "How stupid is that!" she said. Apparently the author of the article didn't read his own quotes (further up) before asseting his conclusion that weight loss dieting and exercising aren't mutually exclusive. Yes they are -- for most people -- at least under sustained *voluntary* circumstances. (Yes, we all know that starving people can be forced to exercise until they drop -- but individuals voluntarily regulating their own behaviors who are not literally "under the gun" have powerful biological mechanisms built in to prevent them from doing just that -- the body PROTECTS itself from excess calorie expenditure via non-essential exercise during times of calorie deficiency... by making one too tired to continue, by causing disiness, fainting, and other things that are very likely to make MOST people STOP exercising unless they are running away from a predator or some other immediate threat of bodily death.)

The WGN article did say some good things, but it's over all tone was not friendly. Typical of what appears in the media. The WaPo article is a lot better. More reasoned. I have hope for the immediate future. We now have another generation who's been put through the wringer of weight-loss-lies. Sooner or later, people will begin to wise up. The media can bleat all they like about "obesity-danger" and that won't increase success at keeping weight off one bit. Eventually people begin to suspect something is wrong with the status quo. My generation did and that brought us the beginning of Health at any Size.

In its defense, the WGN piece was better on the air than it was in article form.

Ya, but as excited as I was for WGN, on Thanksgiving one of the front page web articles was on dieters and their struggles not to eat at Thankgiving. The media doesn't care about the truth, it is trying to make both the wl industry and the food industries happy at the same time, so that is the real balance they are trying to achieve. So what if health and truth are casualties. (But at least they gave a few good links!)