Everyone wants to lose weight. It’s become a trending topic on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. But how does social media influence our understanding of what constitutes ‘normal’ weight? And, more importantly, how do we define it?
The definition of ‘healthy weight’ can vary from gender to gender and from person to person. But generally speaking, a healthy weight is assessed by your body mass index (BMI) and is not defined by a number on the scales. That is, healthy weight does not (and, in fact, should not) correlate with what you weigh. In fact, being of ‘normal weight’ is often used as a synonym for ‘healthy weight’ in the media.
However, this is a false assumption. Being of ‘normal weight’ does not necessarily make you healthy or have a ‘healthy’ lifestyle. People with ‘normal’ weights can be at risk for a number of health problems.
What exactly are the health risks associated with ‘normal’ weight? Let’s explore.
Cardio Risks
When you’re at a healthy weight, you don’t necessarily need to worry about being overweight. However, being of ‘normal weight’ does put you at a certain risk for certain cardiovascular problems. Specifically, being of ‘normal weight’ increases your risk of developing hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and chronic heart disease. These are all factors that contribute to heart disease and stroke. What’s more, people with ‘normal’ weights are also more likely to suffer from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
In short, not only is being of ‘normal weight’ unhealthy, it’s also potentially dangerous. If you’re concerned about your health, it’s worth considering the risks associated with being of ‘normal weight.’
Metabolic Risks
Another factor that increases your risk of ‘normal weight’ is insulin resistance. Simply put, insulin resistance makes it harder for your body to regulate blood sugar. As a result, you may develop diabetes or hypoglycemia. In fact, 20 to 40 percent of people with Type 2 diabetes is estimated to have insulin resistance, making it one of the major risk factors of the disease.
If you’re worried about developing diabetes or suffering from occasional hypoglycemia, it’s worth considering the risks associated with ‘normal weight.’
Gastrointestinal Risks
Being of ‘normal weight’ puts you at risk of certain gastrointestinal problems. Specifically, your chance of developing ulcers, diverticulosis, and irritable bowel syndrome increase as you become heavier. The reason is that as you gain weight, the pressure that is exerted on your stomach increases. This, in turn, can cause stomach discomfort. In fact, many people who suffer from ulcers and diverticulosis report that their symptoms are relieved by adopting a healthy diet, cutting back on the alcohol, and losing weight.
If you’re concerned about developing gastrointestinal problems, it’s worth considering the risks associated with ‘normal weight.’
Reproductive Risks
Being of ‘normal weight’ puts you at risk of certain reproductive problems. Specifically, there is an increased chance of getting varicose veins, endometrial cancer, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) when you’re at a healthy weight. What’s more, women who are of ‘normal weight’ are about twice as likely to get PCOS as those who are obese. PCOS is a major cause of infertility and endocrine problems. In addition, people with PCOS are more likely to get Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. As a result, women who are of ‘normal weight’ should undergo monthly hormone tests and screenings for cancer.
In short, not only is being of ‘normal weight’ unhealthy, it’s also potentially dangerous. If you’re concerned about your health, it’s worth considering the risks associated with being of ‘normal weight.’
Psychological Problems
There is also evidence to suggest that being of ‘normal weight’ increases your risk of developing certain psychological problems. Specifically, people who are of ‘normal weight’ are more likely to be victims of bullying, suffer from low self-esteem, and experience mental health problems like anxiety and depression. In fact, there is even some evidence to suggest that being of ‘normal weight’ may make you a target for future bullying. What’s more, women who are of ‘normal weight’ are about twice as likely to report low self-esteem as those who are obese. This means that not only is being of ‘normal weight’ unhealthy, it’s also potentially dangerous for your mental health.
If you’re concerned about your mental health, it’s worth considering the risks associated with being of ‘normal weight.’
Mortality Risks
To say that being of ‘normal weight’ is unhealthy is an understatement. There is also evidence to suggest that it’s dangerous. Specifically, people who are of ‘normal weight’ are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease and cancer. The reason is that as you get heavier, the rate of these diseases increases. This is partly because there is an increased chance of getting hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease when you’re of ‘normal weight.’ In addition, people who are of ‘normal weight’ are also more likely to develop colon cancer and liver cancer. Finally, people who are of ‘normal weight’ are twice as likely to die from all causes as those who are obese. This is partly because as you get heavier, the general health of your body decreases. In fact, people who are of ‘normal weight’ have a 50 percent lower survival rate than those who are obese. If you’re worried about your health, it’s worth considering the mortality risks associated with ‘normal weight.’
In summary, being of ‘normal weight’ is unhealthy and potentially dangerous. Not only does it put you at risk of developing a number of diseases, it can also cause you to suffer from psychological problems and even increase your mortality rate. If you’re concerned about your health, it’s worth considering the risks associated with ‘normal weight.’
So far, we’ve discussed the risks associated with being of ‘normal weight’. But is there also a benefit to being of ‘normal weight’? Well, yes there is. Specifically, there is evidence to suggest that people who are of ‘normal weight’ live longer than those who are obese. The reason why is that as your BMI decreases, your health improves. Consequently, people who are of ‘normal weight’ tend to live longer than those who are obese. In fact, they may even live 10 to 20 years longer. That’s quite an improvement! But, as we’ve established, not all ‘normal weights’ are equal. Some ‘normal weights’ may be healthier than others. Hence, it’s important to find out what makes them ‘normal.’
Meaning Of ‘Normal’
The first step of assessing your weight is to determine whether you need to lose or gain weight. Next, you need to look into the risks associated with the amount of weight that you have. Is your weight causing you harm? If so, you need to start losing weight. On the other hand, if your weight is not posing any risks to your health, you do not necessarily need to lose weight. In short, what constitutes ‘normal’ weight can vary from person to person and may even change over time. However, generally speaking, a healthy weight is between 18.5 and 24.9. Anything above this range and you should consider yourself obese. In addition, your weight should not fluctuate much from day to day. Similarly, if you do fluctuate a lot, you should not feel bad as long as the measurements are within the healthy weight range.
Being of ‘normal weight’ does not necessarily make you healthier or have a ‘healthy’ lifestyle. The healthiest individuals may be those who are overweight or obese. It simply means that at the current weight, you’re not causing yourself any damage and, hence, are not at risk of any serious health problems. Thus, when people say that they want to ‘lose weight’ or that their ‘BMI is a little high,’ you should not feel bad as long as they’re not suffering from any health problems. On the contrary, you should encourage them to do so.