We’ve gotta stop equating skinny with healthy (and fat with unhealthy). Sometimes when people lose weight it just isn’t healthy.
Let’s start with the obvious:
People can have different body sizes for many different reasons.
Sometimes, people lose weight because they exercise.
Sometimes, people lose weight because they lose muscle mass.
Sometimes, people lose weight because they have an eating disorder.
Sometimes, people lose weight because they have malabsorption issues stemming from impaired digestion.
Sometimes, people lose weight because they have cancer.
And there are many additional reasons (both healthy and unhealthy) why someone can lose weight.
Weight loss is neither good nor bad–It all depends on the context.
And furthermore…
Two different people can weigh exactly the same amount and have very different health statuses.
One person could be pregnant, while the other person is not. One person can have significantly more skeletal muscle than the other person. One person could have significantly more body fat stored around their internal organs. One person could be female, and require a higher percentage of body fat in order to maintain fertility.
One person could be pre-diabetic, while the other person has excellent blood sugar control. (Skinny people can suffer from Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin Resistance, too!)
It is exactly because of these above reasons why I, as a practitioner, do not focus on weight loss as a primary goal with my clients. I find that goals are much more effective when they are values-driven.
What are the underlying values behind wanting to lose weight? Does the client want to improve blood sugar balance and insulin sensitivity? Do they want to have more energy to do the daily activities they love? Are they concerned about their levels of chronic inflammation?
So the next time you find yourself criticizing your body, remember that health and size aren’t the same.
