Is “Pouring on the Pounds” Just Pouring on Resentment?

Have you seen the latest ad from the NYC Health Department as part of their anti-soda and sugary beverages campaign?:

Wow. I mean…wow! I am a huge advocate for eliminating soft drinks and other sugary beverages, but, for me, this misses the mark. Not because I don’t agree with the message. I surely do, and I commend NYC for working to raise awareness around this and many other health issues. But does this particular ad raise awareness? Or does it just raise our disgust and defenses against the government trying to dictate what we choose to put into our bodies? Do ads aimed at reaching people through shock value truly accomplish their goals? Sure this might deter you from drinking the soda in your hand right now, but what about later today? Tomorrow? Next week? Do you truly feel educated as to how to make more informed choices on a daily basis?

If I’ve learned anything about what it takes to make positive change for your health, it’s that what people most need to experience are the benefits of making healthier choices before they will be prepared to relinquish their old habits. Most people know by now that drinking soda isn’t the best choice. They don’t need to be told WHAT not to eat or drink. They need help learning HOW to make a different choice.

And how does this ad address making a different choice? Milk is offered as an alternative. Well…on a caloric level, making this substitution is not going to do much to keep the weight off. Add to that the fact that many people have trouble digesting milk, and that there are just as many health problems linked to over-consumption of dairy as there are to over-consumption of soda and sugary drinks, and what have we really learned? (Aside from more about the influence of the dairy industry…but that’s another blog post for another day…)

We also need to be mindful of the contradictions people find between the message of the ad and their own experience. Many of the You Tube viewers talk about how they drink soda and have no weight problems, or stress that they only drink diet soda and, therefore, this wouldn’t apply to them. Have we helped educate those individuals on how sugar and artificial sweeteners have far more reaching consequences on your health than just your weight? And don’t be deceived –diet soda can contribute to weight gain just as much as regular. This is a great video that speaks more to this side of the story:

I’m not suggesting that NYC stop this ad campaign. If even one person pursues a more in depth conversation with a friend, family member, or health professional it’s completely worth it. But the politics of health is a tricky thing, and my fear is that ads like these may only serve to close the door for many people to an important conversation that they really DO want to have.

How do you feel about this latest ad?

Health is more than a number

I was talking to someone recently who was curious to know his BMI (Body Mass Index).  This is a tool that allows you to calculate your weight in relation to your height.  In this way, you can be classified as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese.

We entered his information and learned that he was classified as “normal”, and therefore considered at low risk for diseases that are associated with obesity (diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, etc.).  While this may be true from a numbers perspective, the results were actually quite surprising.  Because he essentially lives on a diet of fast food alone.  He is working on making changes, but no BMI reading of “normal” was going to fool him (or me) into believing that this meant he was at low risk for any of those diseases.

While I do consider the BMI a useful tool, I am concerned that it may just perpetuate the obsession in our society with the number on the scale.  It is actually quite possible to be classified as overweight or obese, and show less indicators for related diseases than someone who is extremely thin.

I am certainly dismayed by the epidemic of obesity in our country, and I think it’s particularly on my mind after watching the documentary “Killer at Large” last night (which I highly recommend to anyone interested in the topic).  Yes, weight is an important factor to consider in overall health, and I absolutely adore working with my clients to help them reach their ideal weight.  But any single minded focus only serves to distract us from all of the pieces that work together to create good health.  Stepping onto the scale each day leads to stress, frustration, and feelings of failure.  And this can apply even if you are happy with your weight.  Does that automatically mean you feel as healthy as you want to be?  How about stepping off the scale and into your life?  You are not a failure, and no small piece of equipment on your bathroom floor can make you feel that way unless you allow it.

If you struggle with this, here’s something to try today:

Tape the number WANT to see on your scale.  Then spend a minute or two really allowing yourself to believe it, and to feel all of the emotions associated with that belief.  Feeling more positive and maybe even inspired?  Use that energy to go out for a walk.  Play with your dogs.  Take a yoga class.  Connect with friends, with nature, with yourself.  Take a step towards getting the support you need around making changes to your diet.  Tune into your instincts.  Your body WILL tell you what it wants if you take the time to listen.

Having struggled with my own weight for a long time, I can tell you from experience that it was only after I learned to take the pressure off that I found the weight went away right along with it.  Your life is about so much more than a number on a scale which can never substitute for the purest joy associated with actively pursuing (and acheiving!) the happiness and good health you deserve.