A Few Words on Appearance (and a cute cat!)

This is a tiny bit grim of me to say, but while this picture is really cute, it also kind of reminds me of how some doctors think that people with, say, edema (accumulation of fluid) can "live off their fat" while they're in hospital. Oh dear. I hope I never have to have that conversation. It amazes me when I hear dieticians talk about how little doctors are taught about nutrition. A patient in that position might actually be severely malnourished. Appearances can be deceiving...

I had a long, long talk with Chris yesterday about different causes of obesity and about how although only one percent of obesity can be attributed to genetics, that the other ninety-nine percent is not solely the fault of the food industry. There are so many factors contributing to the ill health of people that it's hard to know where to start or how to address the issue at all. One thing Chris brought up that I found very interesting, though, was medications and the way they affect people's bodies. I don't know if enough research has been done to determine the long-term effect increased use of medication with weight gain as a side effect has caused over the years, but I'd be interested to know.

It's also a good reminder that it's really unfair to assume that someone who is overweight is lazy or eats too much or other snap judgments often made. You never know what's going on with them. It's similar to how it's unfair to call anyone underweight anorexic—they might have Chrohn's Disease, for example.

Simply looking someone over is never enough to give you even a fraction of the story. That's why it's important to actually talk to one another...

Picture brought to you by LOLcats at I Can Haz Cheezburger:

Way to be part of the problem, Ms. Moss

I don't know if any of you guys have been hearing about Kate Moss' recent comment in a Women's Wear Daily interview that "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels."

Ohhhh dear...

While I'm sure there are some who would argue that she just doesn't realize how dangerous a statement like that can be (that exact slogan can be found on websites promoting anorexic behavior in girls), I have a feeling there are plenty more who are outraged and think Moss is being irresponsible. And, um, is this a good time to note that she has a 7-year-old daughter? And that she's supposedly writing a cook book (at least according to British Vogue)?

It all kind of makes my head spin. I had a very interesting email exchange with a friend yesterday about the pressures on women to look a certain way yet not too much so and not to look like we actually take the time to take care of our minds and bodies. That might be portrayed as selfish or snobby. And is it a good thing or a bad thing to be a "skinny bitch?" So many blurred lines, so much confusion.

Though I tend to say that everyone is entitled to their opinion, I think that Moss is being irresponsible. She may or may not realize that people only listen to her because she looks a certain way and that her looks give her an influence she really doesn't deserve—or that if she does deserve it, those qualities are rarely on display. For years, girls have looked up to her as a role model, weirdly enough, and at some point, one should acknowledge the responsibility they have to use their influence for good.

Spouting pro-anorexia BS to WWDis not exactly the way to use your (unearned) power to promote a positive message.

Le sigh. I hate the fashion industry.

Fourth Graders Dieting?

In 1986, Jeffrey Zaslow conducted interviews with 100 fourth-grade girls about their dieting habits. More than half of the girls surveyed said that they were dieting, and 75% of them—even the skinniest girls—said they weighed too much.

In this article, Zaslow reflects on that study and checks back in with the girls, who are now in their early 30's. Recent research shows that societal obsession with thinness and pressure on young girls to attain that ideal are, unfortunately but not surprisingly, even stronger.

Since the 1980's, incidence of eating disorders have risen dramatically, and between 2000 and 2006, the percentage of girls who believe they must be thin went from 48% to 60%. Between the increasingly unrealistic images of "perfect" (aka "retouched") women in ads and the concern with preventing childhood obesity, it's no surprise that more and more nine-year-olds think they need to be tiny, not realizing that depriving themselves of the nutrients they need could put them at risk for stunted growth and brain development.

While there have been some efforts to improve girls' self-esteem (books, for example), I don't think that nearly enough is being done. I understand the precarious balance of the situation—encouraging healthy eating habits and self-acceptance without going overboard in either direction. This is one key area that needs more attention. Lots more.

Body Image Boosters

I can't think of a single woman I know who doesn't struggle with body image. Coming from all directions, we've got messages darting towards us about what (or whom) we should and shouldn't look like, what we should eat and how much, how we can look better—It's tough out there!

The National Eating Disorders Association has a wonderful list of ways to boost your body image.

Some of my personal favorites are:

• I will wear clothes that are comfortable and that make me feel comfortable in my body.
• I will list 5-10 good qualities that I have, such as understanding, intelligence, or creativity. I will repeat these to myself whenever I start to feel bad about my body.
• I will surround myself with people and things that make me feel good about myself and my abilities. When I am around people and things that support me and make me feel good, I will be less likely to base my self-esteem on the way my body looks.
• I will treat my body with respect and kindness. I will feed it, keep it active, and listen to its needs. I will remember that my body is the vehicle that will carry me to my dreams!

Orthorexia: An Unhealthy Obsession with Healthy Eating

A healthy diet is one of the key elements of a healthy life. Some people, however, may take it to an extreme, causing their mind and body more harm than good.

This piece from the current issue of Today's Dietician examines the topic of orthorexia, an unhealthy of obsession with eating healthfully. While not a recognized eating disorder (yet), somebody suffering from orthorexia may suffer from malnutrition and psychological torment just as someone with anorexia might, though a lot of the "diet" food considered safe by anorexics is off-limits to someone with orthorexia, as the obsessive part of orthorexia is less about thinness than about being "healthy."

I can see, especially in the field I am going into, how easy it can be for someone to slip into this kind of behavior. When you're inundated with information about food and food safety all day, it can be a challenge to try to fit that knowledge into your daily life without going overboard.

We really can't expect ourselves to eat a perfectly pure diet all the time. It's about finding a healthy balance we can live with. That's part of why I named my blog "Keeping it Real"—we're real people living real lives and we need real food.

One of the things I want to do as a dietician is work with people to help them understand how easy it is to take care of themselves once they manage to cut through the fog and tune out the noise of all the mixed messages out there.