While maintaining a healthy lifestyle has many important health benefits, contrary to popular belief, weight alone may not provide an adequate picture of health. Losing weight is good, but it isn’t always winning at mental health.
Just because a person is a little overweight does not mean they are completely unhealthy, nor does a person being thin mean that they are completely healthy either. You may be surprised to find out how many thin people are rather unfit and unhealthy.
There is a long-standing obsession with BMI and dieting. New evidence suggests that those with higher body weight struggle to sustain long-term weight loss through lifestyle changes alone. The pressure to make or sustain the weight loss is most likely behind the struggle, and it can cause harm ranging from eating disorders to reinforced stigma because the consequences go beyond physical.
Emerging Movement Looking Beyond BMI
A growing movement has emerged, with some doctors shifting away from scales and moving towards personalized and compassionate care that values overall well-being to support people who are trying to improve their health. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle provides important benefits, but this movement acknowledges that weight alone might not give an adequate picture of someone’s health, and recognizing the limitations of lifestyle interventions focusing on restricting an individual’s energy intake and increasing their physical activity levels for weight loss could pave the way for more effective and patient-centered care.
The movement points out that recent clinical guidelines reflect the growing recognition that weight is an inadequate measure of health, and alternative approaches, such as Health at Every Size (HAES), acknowledging that good health can be achieved regardless of weight loss and have shown promising results in improving eating behaviors.
Patient Centered Approach
However, this movement needs to have these approaches evaluated in large clinical trials before doctors can learn from them to provide better and more compassionate care for patients with larger bodies. For example, discuss making gradual changes, which can become healthy habits over time, rather than jumping into it hardcore right away. Make people aware that they could find it hard, and they may experience setbacks, but that’s normal; learn what went wrong, adjust, and carry on. There is no one-size-fits-all approach or timeline when it comes to weight loss.
“Doctors should be prepared to inform individuals seeking weight loss about the potential benefits and harms of interventions and minimize the risk of developing eating disorders and long-term impacts on metabolism,” they write. “Such a patient-centred approach is likely to provide better care by aligning with patient preferences and circumstances while also reducing weight bias.”
“Doctors’ advice about healthy eating and physical activity is still relevant as it may result in better health. The main goal is to offer good care irrespective of weight, which means not caring less but rather discussing benefits, harms, and what is important to the patient.”
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN does not agree or disagree with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement.
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