Weigh Better U: Be Positive, But Be Honest

  Our business is fitness. But this week’s article is about making honest decisions.

  It is common to hear that people should ignore their weight or physical profile for the sake of “body positivity.” Being 50 or 100, or merely 20, pounds overweight is not “just as good” or as healthy as being the correct weight (based on height, age, etc.).

  If somebody is getting winded after climbing a flight of stairs or some other moderate activity, they are probably out of shape.

  People have a right to make choices about their health. If somebody likes junk food more than they like to exercise, that is fine. If they like playing video games more than exercise, good for them. This article is not about shaming people for their choices.

  But different choices lead to different results. The immediate differences are going to be apparent in somebody’s weight and physical profile. And there are probably going to be long-term differences in health and life expectancy.

  Deriding fitness or exercise as “fat-phobia” or “diet culture” does not change the fact that being overweight is unhealthy. (At the risk of sounding juvenile, maybe people who exercise could complain about “fit-phobia” or “glutton culture.”) If somebody’s weight is the result of a medical condition, they can still make decisions to mitigate or aggravate their health problems.

  The IT and office guy here at Weigh Better U is 35~40 pounds overweight. Other than the light workouts that he sneaks in at our Main Street studio, he is not active. His diet is spectacularly healthy. He plays video games. He is not ashamed of his choices. But he understands the consequences of those choices.

  This column is about encouraging and helping people to make healthy decisions. Be healthy, or not. But be honest.