There is more of a stigmatisation of smokers here than there, in fact, because they're a major burden on the public health system. Drinkers get a free pass because, well, it's Australia.
To me it's a troubling issue because I grew up dancing where people were commonly and unhealthily underweight. Talking to some of the kids I know, some of what they are taught at school sounds like dancer talk: X is a bad food. This leads to no few eating issues.
But on the other hand, I know teenagers who are far fatter than I managed to become after ten years of small yearly weight gains post-foot-buggering because they eat crap and do little exercise. Not only are they dramatically shortening their lifespans, but they are not having a healthy adolescence where they able to do normal teenage things like bike to their mate's place, or go dancing for hours, or walk five miles to with a gaggle of friends through the countryside in the middle of the night if they're a bit older.
At the same time, I know skinny adolescents who have a similarly grim health profile because their skinniness is bought with bad diet and smoking.
I fully agree with you and the person you've quoted in saying that the answer to this is not to say, 'Grrr, you're fat', because fatness is not a good indicator of fitness. But I do think that there needs to be more fitness, and societies do well to organise themselves around walking and cycling rather than the motor car.
And there are genuine and immediate health benefits to exercising, even if it doesn't change your weight. Since rowing and walking more, my immune system has improved and my ability to withstand stress is definitely better. We have a society in which tens of thousands of people take drugs for mild depression, some of which drugs have serious side effects, most of whom I strongly believe would be better off with a good brisk walk in the back.
So my manifesto for a good quality life is be whatever size you are, but be the fit and healthy you.
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Date: 2010-01-21 09:39 pm (UTC)To me it's a troubling issue because I grew up dancing where people were commonly and unhealthily underweight. Talking to some of the kids I know, some of what they are taught at school sounds like dancer talk: X is a bad food. This leads to no few eating issues.
But on the other hand, I know teenagers who are far fatter than I managed to become after ten years of small yearly weight gains post-foot-buggering because they eat crap and do little exercise. Not only are they dramatically shortening their lifespans, but they are not having a healthy adolescence where they able to do normal teenage things like bike to their mate's place, or go dancing for hours, or walk five miles to with a gaggle of friends through the countryside in the middle of the night if they're a bit older.
At the same time, I know skinny adolescents who have a similarly grim health profile because their skinniness is bought with bad diet and smoking.
I fully agree with you and the person you've quoted in saying that the answer to this is not to say, 'Grrr, you're fat', because fatness is not a good indicator of fitness. But I do think that there needs to be more fitness, and societies do well to organise themselves around walking and cycling rather than the motor car.
And there are genuine and immediate health benefits to exercising, even if it doesn't change your weight. Since rowing and walking more, my immune system has improved and my ability to withstand stress is definitely better. We have a society in which tens of thousands of people take drugs for mild depression, some of which drugs have serious side effects, most of whom I strongly believe would be better off with a good brisk walk in the back.
So my manifesto for a good quality life is be whatever size you are, but be the fit and healthy you.
ETA a missed word!