A doctor's point of view: Is Our Obsession With Weight Loss News Unhealthy?

Blogger: Susan Parsons MD
Blog: Diet Secrets MD

NOTE: Dr. Parsons received a Master’s degree in Human Nutrition before going to medical school to become a physician. She has 3 degrees from Ohio State University – first a B.S. in English, then later the M. S. and the M.D. She is currently Board Certified in Family Practice as well as in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
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Weight loss is a popular topic these days. Does this mean that most of us are overly obsessed with our looks and our figures?  Granted, eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia are too common. And the compulsion to be thin has sadly wrecked the health of more than a few.
 

But look around. As a family doctor, I see a far bigger problem for society as a whole, and that is obesity.  More than 65% of Americans are now overweight, and other developed countries are close behind. Even our government is concerned. 

 

Corpulence is not primarily a beautification issue, except maybe in Hollywood. Obesity is a health problem, and it is growing by leaps and bounds.  Did you know that the average adult weighs 25 pounds more now than in 1960? Our idea of "normal" today may be skewed.

 

The biggest problem with obesity is not whether you can get into your bikini or skinny jeans but the costs to your health and well-being. Diabetes, heart disease, cancer, birth defects, infertility … all of these problems (and more) are promoted by the condition of being too fat.

 

So, while some women are overly fixated on cellulite and what to do about it, the majority of us should probably be more concerned about our extra pounds than we actually are. (more after  the jump)

 

We need good sources of information on how to lose weight. No, not celebrity dieting techniques. Not the green tea patches and the over the counter stimulants designed to rake in the money of those desperate for a quick and easy solution. But straightforward and helpful tactics, based on the latest research and medical science. 

 

The intent behind my website and blog called DietSecretsMD is to provide quality information about weight loss. So, I was taken aback when I received a scathing email soon after the launch of my nutrition and weight loss site this spring from a member on Facebook. Here is the story.

...Good nutrition, exercise, and a healthy body weight are crucial if you want the "good life"...

As a physician, my good-for-you approach has always been based on wholesome nutrition, effective exercise, and a balanced lifestyle. And I was gratified by the number of acquaintances and readers who told me that they were relying upon my information to start their own weight loss programs.
 

Friends and family became involved in spreading the word. That stimulated my daughter, Amanda, to place an inexpensive ad on her college's Facebook site, hoping to bring us more traffic.

 

At the time, she was in her senior year at an academically-competitive Midwestern college, known for attracting the "you can't be too thin or too rich" crowd.  Over her four collegiate years, Amanda had shared tales of roommates and acquaintances with strange eating habits and even stranger dieting strategies. She even hinted of cocaine use among the smart, beautiful girls (at least, not her friends), hoping to control their appetites enough to avoid the usual college weight gain.  I was aghast, to say the least.

 

These college coeds seemed to be a potential audience for my message. We hoped to attract a number of readers interested in reading the latest diet and exercise secrets for weight loss.

 

I was gratified to get such a good response … until I received The Email. A female student, a freshman no less, lambasted me for targeting her school, one "known for its prevalence of eating disorders".  She alleged that I was preying upon those young girls who were overly obsessed with thinness. In a word, she was accusing me of promoting eating disorders!

 

The email gave me pause. Was I truly taking advantage of anorexic young women who would be drawn to my site?  For gosh sakes', I'm a doctor! I'm not used to anyone questioning my motives, especially an 18-year old.  I felt very defensive, yet wondered if I had overstepped the boundaries of propriety.

 

 

But after a few minutes reflection, I realized that the beneficial information on my site could SAVE some of these young girls from their crazy, mixed up ideas about diet and weight loss.  My sensible daughter wholeheartedly confirmed this notion. Although we stopped the Facebook ad since final exams and summer break was approaching, I became sensitized to the "desire to be thin" issue. 

 

My message continues to be clear. Good nutrition, exercise, and a healthy body weight are crucial if you want the "good life". 

So, if your idea of "le bon vie" has the spotlight on beauty, clothes shopping, and celebrity gossip, that's your call. But deep down, I hope you are in it for the health benefits. When you reach a healthy weight, you then have the energy to do your job, take care of your family, play golf or tennis as you get older, and avoid disease, disability, nursing home living, and premature death. With these goals, your motivation will likely be stronger and longer lasting.