Ripped from the Headlines

News bits that caught my eye:

Kate Moss, professional Skinny Girl, created a minor ruckus last week, when she was quoted as saying that one of her mottoes is "nothing tastes as good as being thin feels." Apparently, in addition to being one of the stupidest diet-related slogans out there, this phrase is frequently used in pro-anorexia communities. (I had no idea.) Her reps are using the "taken out of context" defense.

You might have gathered that I'm not fond of this slogan. Actually, I despise it. This concept of "thin" as some sort of ideal is one of the reasons I became obese. I trapped myself into thinking that "thin" was the only acceptable result, and that just wasn't in my genetic structure. The inevitable failures led to me not liking me very much. And I'm really quite likable, as it turns out.

If I was forced at fork point to deliver an alternative to "nothing tastes as good as...", I'd find "being healthier feels" or "being in control feels" much more meaningful. But even those don't really work for me, because from my point of view, comparing taste and being is like comparing apples to shoe boxes . They're two separate entities. The only motto that truly makes sense to me is "nothing tastes as good as carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, but if I want to remain healthy, I can only have it every now and then." :)

What would your alternative slogan be? Do you have a motto that makes you back away from the carrot cake?

Moving along, Lincoln University is in the news for requiring that its students either pass a BMI test (30 or lower) or take a class called "Fitness for Life." The weekly 3-hour course has an exercise component and also presents health and fitness information.

Ah, so many issues, so little time. But in a nutshell...

First of all, thumbs up to the university's Powers That Be for caring about the health of their graduates and wanting them to go forth into the world with the knowledge of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. They deserve kudos for attempting to address the issues.

But--and you knew there'd be one--this requirement does raise my Big Girl hackles (yes, I still have those) in that it focuses on weight as opposed to health. We all know BMI and weight are not the be-all/end-all of fitness and just because someone falls into acceptable levels on those tests, that doesn't mean they're healthy. There are many lifestyle choices that affect health, such as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, drug abuse, unprotected sex, etc. In my opinion, requiring that ALL physically-able students take and pass the course is a preferable solution.

Finally, big thumbs down to the media for trying to sensationalize the issue through misleading headlines, especially the ever-idiotic Fox News for reporting that "students must pass the BMI test to graduate." (That was the on-screen text I saw as I passed the television. I didn't watch their report.) The actual requirement is that students must score under 30 on the BMI test or complete the fitness class. They do not have to lose a single pound or lower their BMI even one point to graduate. I may not like the requirement, but it should be reported accurately.

Your thoughts?

And that concludes this cantankerous post. :) Hope you all have a magnificent Monday. I'm off to shop for countertops, but I'll be checking in on YOU later today!