Sunday 18 January 2009

Sunday January 28th, 2009 Healthy Weight Week

It`s the beginning of Healthy Weight Week today, a response to the overeating and crash dieting that often accompanies the holiday season. Today's column originally ran in 2000 and it's interesting to note the changes between now and then. First, most of the web links have changed. Second, the news isn't good -- our society is getting fatter! But part of it's perception: "in a survey of women aged 18-35, 75 per cent believed they were fat, while by medical standards, only 25 per cent would be considered fat." ().

The media is often criticized for contributing to this anxiety. An American study found that today, fashion models weigh 23 per cent less than the average female. Only about 5% of women have the genetic make up to ever achieve the ultra-long and thin model body type so pervasive in the media.

At the same time, national levels of obesity are on the rise in most industrialized countries. In England, obesity has doubled between 1980 and 1991. (www.healthyweight.net/prevstat.htm#11), The World Health Organization?s latest projections indicate that globally in 2005 approximately 1.6 billion adults (age 15+) were overweight and at least 400 million adults were obese. WHO further projects that by 2015, approximately 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and more than 700 million will be obese.

In June 2008 the Canadian Community Health released the results of their 2007 study which indicated that 16 per cent of Canadians would be considered obese and a further 32% are overweight. Compare this to the data from the Canadian Community Health Surveys in 2000-2001 which shows that approximately 14.9% of Canadian adults were obese and that 47.4 were overweight (including obese).

Clearly, a lot of confusion exists on the topic of what constitutes a healthy weight and a positive body image. The library has an extensive collection of material on nutrition, healthy eating, and controlled dieting. We also have resources on the dark side of weight management: anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders. Use the health resources in the Virtual Collection to find the latest news and research on these topics. You'll also find that Internet sites like www.healthyweight.net, Yahoo! Health and Bodypositive have current information on health and weight management. You can also get a historical perspective with a copy of an 1890 advertisement for Fat-Ten-U Food, guaranteed to "make The Thin Plump & Rosy with HONEST Fleshiness of Form."

Is it true that very little fat is lost when you lose weight rapidly?

Yes - it's mostly water and muscle loss. The best approach is to plan for a gradual loss of ½ to 1 pound per week. This can be achieved through healthy eating, regular moderate exercise and a positive attitude of acceptance of a realistic weight number or a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI).
Source: American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide (also available as an eBook, online now!)


Is it OK to eliminate all the fat from your diet?

Humans need some dietary fat in order to absorb vitamins A, D, E and K. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, which must be obtained from food, can lower the risk of heart attack and improve cholesterol levels.
Source: The Knopf Canada Book of Healing Foods



How much does the average woman weigh?


Based on 2005 Statistics Canada stats, the average Canadian woman is 5'3.4" tall and weighs 153 pounds. Source: www.wonderquest.com. (This is 11 pounds heavier than reported in the column in 2000).

How do you know what a serving size is?

The Canada's Food Guide website at has examples of serving sizes. For instance, one serving of fruit can equal 1 medium sized fruit or vegetable, 1 cup of salad, ½ cup of juice, or ½ cup of canned or frozen fruits or vegetables.


Sylvia Renaud, Head of Reference and Information Services

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