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• Friday, June 8, 2007 08:46 AM

  BMI of 20 is not 'normal'.

  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

  —DianeKovacs Read DianeKovacs's other letters
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