I think this http://preventionweightloss.mvm.com/ is a much better way of viewing body image. I do not think we all want or should want to look like pre-teens or pre-hip adolescents or like boys? Why/when did underweight become the style/fashion? I notice it seemed to arrive at the same time as shaving one's genitals to look pre-pubescent as well.. this is really creepy. My role model is Marilyn Monroe - size 16 in Some like it Hot and isn't she just? :)

BMI is not very useful as a measure of health or body image, because it does not take skeletal or muscular density and weight into account even for non-athletes.

I learned when I was doing nautilus every other day (ages 24-25) in a physiology grad student's research project to see if lifting weights increases bone density - it does - that 24-28 is a healthy BMI range. Above 30 is not healthy but below 20 is also not healthy. Another thing I learned in the research project I participated in, is that one's bone density and weight as well as muscle density and weight are a critical measure in determining whether one is overweight or underweight.

At age 21, the year I got married, my BMI was 20 I was so thin my knees were sticking out. I am 5 foot 6, with strong long bones, and am large breasted and have a nice round muscular butt. It is not fat. My Mom described my age 14-16 (before I actually got hips) silhouette as boobs and legs... I struggled to keep weight on. I was extremely active, working full-time after school to save money for college (as a nurses-aide). Then working full-time to make it through college (as a janitor for my university and cleaning houses on the weekends). I walked or bicycled everywhere during those years.

Now I'm 45 and my BMI is 28 I'd like to be in better physical shape but I am not fat. When I began working out regularly a couple of years ago (powerwalking, belly-dance, and yoga 4-5 days per week)during the first month, I lost 3 inches on my hips and 4 on my waist - 1 on my bust but did not lose any weight despite also reducing calories. The fact is I gained as much weight in firm muscle as I lost in fat. This is a good thing...Yes I did begin losing weight during the 2nd and subsequent months as I stuck with my program. My goal remains to be strong and increase my endurance and energy. I am proud of my round female body and see no reason to starve myself into stylishness.

Di

Marilyn Monroe weighed around 155 in Some like it Hot lol - and she was almost exactly my height. No one said she was tubby - She was a voluptuous, round and obviously an adult female with actual hips and butt. http://imdb.com/name/nm0000054/bio

She died the year I was born. Note her official measurements.

Note the pictures from the movie - http://imdb.com/title/tt0053291/photogallery

and most especially this one. http://imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1307/Mptv/1307/3733_0056.jpg?path=gallery&path_key=0053291

It is just a blessing that she did not kill anyone. And how would the idiot press react if she had? Poor little baby my foot. She's getting the jail time she earned when the first time she got a hand-slap she turned around and endangered other people's children again...

When I was 10 I would climb up on our roof to be alone and read and re-read (am oldest of 9 and privacy and quiet were a major luxury). I read and re-read her stories until the books fall apart and then I replace them. Last night I listened to her read A Wrinkle in Time on my Ipod. I'm 45 now - I did not realize she was 89 already - she seemed timeless. Thank you for honoring her memory in this article.

Di

Hillary Clinton is a competent self-made woman. She did not marry into her career. She worked hard and her marriage is quite obviously one between equals and friends. She did not vote to condemn MoveOn she voted no on that one. Check it. She was just endorsed by General Wesley Clark, who was my pick last election. I think she can get us the hell out of Iraq with some honor left and she has the ability and the personnel to call on to redeem our honor internationally. The other candidates are also good.

Saying you'll stay home and not vote if she is our presidential candidate is absurd. Do you really mean you'll let the election go to any of the white men on the GOP ticket - none of whom is even vaguely qualified to lead in this era?

Why are you all so afraid of Hillary Clinton? I'm counting my relatives and friends both Democratic and Republican and most agree that Hillary Clinton would be an excellent president. Interesting that the Republican women that I interact with on a daily basis support her. None of my male friends hates her. Some people seem to feel she's a failure because she didnt' divorce her husband over his affair... that is just silly. A good marriage can survive an affair or two if both people want to re-negotiate and stay together. I admire both the Clintons for this. Sensibly they expressed their anger and contrition and then got on with their friendship.

Di