Body image

[Eridanus]

This was brought to my attention by a friend.

Glamour magazine recently polled 2,156 of it's readers on a series of questions that revealed what you valued most. One of the questions asked was...

"Would you rather have a body like Heidi Klum's but die at age 40, or be obese and live to be 100?"

Of the 2,156 readers polled, only 19% said they'd rather live longer than have the perfect body. I can't honestly say I wouldn't vote the same way... but it still troubles me a little bit. How does this poll reflect the society that we live in? Obviously being obese is unhealthy, but isn't a highly skewed set of priorities just as harmful?

One reader who agrees with the 81% majority explained, "I would rather have an amazing but short life than a long one likely filled with self-esteem and health issues." While I can definitely understand this viewpoint, isn't it odd that this reader automatically associates being unattractive with having an unhappy life? Don't ALL women have self-esteem and health issues, no matter how gorgeous? "

Be honest. How would you vote? Why? If you'd rather have the Heidi Klum body, do you feel at all "guilty" about feeling that way? What do you think about the poll majority and its reflection of women? Is the majority opinion a problem? Should it be changed? How?

 

[Tim]

My concern with having a body like Heidi Klum's is where to hide it. Now, would I have aquired this body legally? Do I have to hide it for fear of facing murder charges? Ah hell, give me the body, I'll take the risk. She's a hottie I can't pass up.

 

[Eridanus]

My concern with having a body like Heidi Klum's is where to hide it. Now, would I have aquired this body legally? Do I have to hide it for fear of facing murder charges? Ah hell, give me the body, I'll take the risk. She's a hottie I can't pass up.

:24:
You made me choke on my coffee. :tongue:

 

[BreakfastSurreal]

hmm both of those are very extreme. I'm a middle of the road person myself. Can I live to be 75 and just have an ok body? because thats what id pick!

 

[Valerie]

hmm both of those are very extreme. I'm a middle of the road person myself. Can I live to be 75 and just have an ok body? because thats what id pick!

Hehe, me too, if that was an option!

Honestly though, I think I agree with the person who said that she would rather live a short and happy life rather than living to be 100 and have low sef-esteem issues and basically being unhappy. Because let's face it, if we're talking about obese (not just chubby), who can live a long and happy life like that? I mean, there are several health conditions that are bound to come with being obese, and I personally think it would make my life extremely difficult and unbearable. I sure couldn't imagine living like that for 100 years...! :eek

 

[sharpies]

I'm appalled by this - it really makes me wonder about our society.

Seriously people would rather die young & have a good body - what about the mind?

Allan

 

[BreakfastSurreal]

well it really depends on how obese were talking also. Technically, I am obese. I don't feel obese at all because I am in shape, but I used to definitely feel taht way. So If I could keep the way I look now and live to be 100 then i guess id sure as hell do that! But if we're talking 700lb jabba the hut type thing...errrmmmm no!

 

[Peter Parka]

Well I'm not too worried about a good body but I believe in living fast, dying young and leaving a good looking corpse. I don't want to end up a dribbiling 90 year old sitting in an old peoples home, pissing and shitting myself while I wait to die!

 

[sharpies]

I will not live a long life as I am not well. This is not a what-if for me, this is a fact.

This life is the only thing that you have, it is more important than anything, even if you believe in an afterlife, you have the 'now' whereas the rest of it is just faith.

I'm a short balding little fat guy but you know what, I wouldn't give up what I've had for a good body.

Thin good looking people have their problems too - it's not about what you can see, it's about who you are on the inside.

Allan

 

[Eridanus]

well it really depends on how obese were talking also. Technically, I am obese. I don't feel obese at all because I am in shape, but I used to definitely feel taht way. So If I could keep the way I look now and live to be 100 then i guess id sure as hell do that! But if we're talking 700lb jabba the hut type thing...errrmmmm no!

Yes, you are correct, BreakfastSurreal. More people are considered obese than you think. You don't have to be 300lbs to be considered obese. The normal amount of body fat (expressed as percentage of body fat) is between 25-30% in women and 18-23% in men. Women with over 30% body fat and men with over 25% body fat are considered obese. Morbid obesity is when a person is 50 - 100% more than their ideal body weight.

I've never been overweight nor needed to diet or watch what I eat, but I found the question disturbing.

I think a huge part of this poll is the language that's used... but the whole point of the idea is that it deals in extremes, which to me pretty much mirrors the way a lot of women actually see these sorts of things. I don't know about you guys, but I've never given myself constructive criticism. It's always extreme (I am the ugliest hugest most worthless person ever. Heidi Klum is the most gorgeous incredible perfect creature on the planet.) and really... I think that's a big part of the problem I have with this poll. Why do women have to assume the worst/best when it comes to appearance and self-esteem? One option is that you're "obese," so automatically you're disgusting, alone and unhappy. Then the other option is that you're Heidi Klum, and you're gorgeous, loved by everyone and perfectly content? Neither situation is true, and the only thing that is actually definite about the question is whether or not you're going to choose to die right at the exact time in your life where you might be happy with yourself. I'm looking forward to getting older and not giving two hoots about impressing other people, and I guess I'd rather survive my 40's, and maybe come out on the other side as not being perfect, and not really caring.

Why do we do that? Why do look at things in such extremes?

 

[Eridanus]

Thin good looking people have their problems too - it's not about what you can see, it's about who you are on the inside.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[BreakfastSurreal]

my body fat is right at 30%. Before I started dieting it was about 40%. And before I started exercising it was 35%. So progress is something at least!

 

[Tim]

my body fat is right at 30%. Before I started dieting it was about 40%. And before I started exercising it was 35%. So progress is something at least!

30% body fat.... 100% adorable

 

[BreakfastSurreal]

lol i might be down to 29 now, i need to check! that would make me un-obese. Then I'd have to go buy some new clothes and celebrate for sure!!! lol

 

[Eridanus]

lol i might be down to 29 now, i need to check! that would make me un-obese. Then I'd have to go buy some new clothes and celebrate for sure!!! lol

Well done!

The most important thing is that you are happy with yourself no matter what your body fat percentage is.

 

[BreakfastSurreal]

I'm getting there that's for sure. I am a lot happier than I was 40lbs ago! And I will become even happier as the pounds continue to slide off I'm sure. Not for being smaller, but for being healthy, and not feeling uncomfortable in my own skin, and for all the incredibly hard work I've been putting in for the past 8 months now.

 

[sharpies]

It's important that you be who you want to be. I'm glad that you feel happy within yourself Clare.

Allan

 

[Nightflight]

I used to tell people of course I am in shape, round IS a shape! (Being short and overweight SUCKS)