Weight not a sign of fitness

ACE Fitness Matters recently published an article titled "Fit Versus Fat: What's Weight Got to Do With It?"

It gives interesting perspectives and facts on how we view the obese in America. The dangers related to being overweight are real but are we blurring the line between what is considered to be healthy and unhealthy simply by looking at a person`s weight.

Body fat testing is just one of many tests that reveals the ratio of lean body mass to fat in a person. However, this is not the only way to judge whether a person is fit or not.

The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports recognizes the five components of fitness: muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition. Therefore, a person could reach or exceed the acceptable ranges in the fitness components but still have a high body-fat composition.

Weight loss is still the No. 1 priority for most people who start to exercise. Also, fitness professionals still tend to equate "results" with the number of pounds lost.

There are many benefits to be gained by starting an exercise program. By placing the emphasis on weight loss, many people might set themselves up for failure.

On June 17, 1998, 29 million Americans officially joined the ranks of the overweight or obese. No the population did not go on an eating spree and gain weight overnight. Instead, the BMI guidelines were altered and the range that is considered healthy or average was narrowed.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a formula in which your weight in kilograms is divided by height in meters squared. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is now considered overweight while a BMI of 30 or above is considered obese. Since this calculation is based strictly on height and weight, other factors (like lean muscle tissue) are not taken into account.

Lowering the BMI threshold has caused a great deal of controversy. The universal conclusion to this was that lowering it on the basis of mortality was not warranted.

The new studies do not address the health risks associated with being underweight. Some researchers have warned that using BMI as the sole measurement of healthy weight may actually do more harm than good. The BMI is not a reliable predictor of fitness level or blood pressure and does not distinguish between lean and fat tissue.

Regardless of the BMI guidelines, there are many prejudices that exist towards the overweight. Currently, being thin is considered healthy and chic, and slimming down is touted as being the answer to all our weight-related health woes. Now you add on the stigma of calling obesity a "disease" and the general population really cringes away.

For example, during a 1998 PBS television broadcast entitled "Fat," 24 children between the ages of 5 and 8 were given four photographs. One showed a child in a wheelchair, another showed a child who had lost hair due to cancer treatments, a third showed a child from a nation the kids had no contact with and the fourth showed a fat child. The kids were asked to identify which of the four children in the pictures they most wouldn't like to be their friend. The child who earned the most rejections was the fat one. When the youngsters were asked why they had chosen that particular child, the general reply was "because he is too fat."

Although this example is shocking, it is a reminder of how we have slowly started to turn our backs on those that are overweight. Under the new BMI guidelines, 54.9% or 97.1 million people are considered overweight.

Fitness professionals should not judge people exclusively on their size, weight or body fat percentage. Instead the person should be looked at as an individual who has succeeded in some components (of fitness) but still needs additional help and support to improve in other areas.

Kim Springer and her husband, Mike, are Certified Personal Trainers and owners of Springer Training. They can be reached at 233-9442 or at their Web site www.springertraining.com.