Here 's an interesting short article on how people of "Normal Weight" can be fat and unhealthy!
http://watrd.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/even-the-thin-can-be-fat/
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Listen to Cake Topple Your Brain!
A Podcast from NPR:
http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=122781981&m=122971033
http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=122781981&m=122971033
From the National Assoc to Advance Fat Acceptance
Consider this news bulletin, and think about how we can encourage people to live healthier lives. Is this the way??
Call to Action - Consider Carefully Where You Spend Your Grocery Dollars
Steven A. Burd, Safeway's chief executive says he has set an example for employers nationwide by rewarding employees for healthy behavior. His wellness program requires workers to pay higher insurance premiums if they flunk tests for measures such as weight, blood pressure and cholesterol.
As proof that his plan works, he claimed their health care costs for four years have been held constant. Really? The element of Safeway's benefits plan tying employees' premiums to medical test results was not implemented until 2009, according to Safeway Senior Vice President Ken Shachmut.
John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods, has a plan for cutting his health insurance costs by giving his employees extra discounts on their company store purchases based on their Body Mass Index (BMI).
Employees with a BMI between 28 and 29.9 will get a 22% discount; those with a BMI of 26-28.9 will get a 25% discount; those with a BMI of 24-25.9 will get a 27% discount; and those below 24 will get a 30% discount. Employees must also meet blood pressure and cholesterol criteria and not use nicotine to qualify. All company employees are afforded a 20% discount on their purchases.
These approaches in company wellness programs are not effective long term strategies. They simply repeat a cycle of stigma and bias in workplaces across America (Puhl et al, 2008). Wellness Programs that encourage and support holistic healthy lifestyle changes independent of BMI are much more effective.
In light of the discriminatory practices of these industry leaders, NAAFA urges our members and all those who believe that discrimination is wrong to consider very carefully where you spend your hard earned grocery budget. We encourage you to support grocery suppliers whose benefits packages benefit all employees equally. We encourage you to support co-ops and farmer's markets for your organic grocery needs. You work hard for your money. Use it wisely to support those who do not promote weight bias and discrimination.
Those of you who wish to express you concerns and opinions to these company leaders may do so at the following addresses:
John Mackey, CEO
Whole Foods Market, Inc.
550 Bowie Street
Austin, TX 78703-4644
Steven Burd, CEO
Safeway, Inc.
5918 Stoneridge Mall Rd.
Pleasanton, CA 94588
Call to Action - Consider Carefully Where You Spend Your Grocery Dollars
Steven A. Burd, Safeway's chief executive says he has set an example for employers nationwide by rewarding employees for healthy behavior. His wellness program requires workers to pay higher insurance premiums if they flunk tests for measures such as weight, blood pressure and cholesterol.
As proof that his plan works, he claimed their health care costs for four years have been held constant. Really? The element of Safeway's benefits plan tying employees' premiums to medical test results was not implemented until 2009, according to Safeway Senior Vice President Ken Shachmut.
John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods, has a plan for cutting his health insurance costs by giving his employees extra discounts on their company store purchases based on their Body Mass Index (BMI).
Employees with a BMI between 28 and 29.9 will get a 22% discount; those with a BMI of 26-28.9 will get a 25% discount; those with a BMI of 24-25.9 will get a 27% discount; and those below 24 will get a 30% discount. Employees must also meet blood pressure and cholesterol criteria and not use nicotine to qualify. All company employees are afforded a 20% discount on their purchases.
These approaches in company wellness programs are not effective long term strategies. They simply repeat a cycle of stigma and bias in workplaces across America (Puhl et al, 2008). Wellness Programs that encourage and support holistic healthy lifestyle changes independent of BMI are much more effective.
In light of the discriminatory practices of these industry leaders, NAAFA urges our members and all those who believe that discrimination is wrong to consider very carefully where you spend your hard earned grocery budget. We encourage you to support grocery suppliers whose benefits packages benefit all employees equally. We encourage you to support co-ops and farmer's markets for your organic grocery needs. You work hard for your money. Use it wisely to support those who do not promote weight bias and discrimination.
Those of you who wish to express you concerns and opinions to these company leaders may do so at the following addresses:
John Mackey, CEO
Whole Foods Market, Inc.
550 Bowie Street
Austin, TX 78703-4644
Steven Burd, CEO
Safeway, Inc.
5918 Stoneridge Mall Rd.
Pleasanton, CA 94588
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
An interesting piece on Health At Every Size
There's a new very interesting report on the website for Wellness Councils of America, called "10 Things You Can Do Right Now". This article is about ways to improve health WITHOUT DIETING. Weight loss and maintenance is NOT the end all and be all of good health. Check out this article at
It turns out that repeated attempts at weight loss increase the likelihood of eating disorders and poor body image in both adults and kids. The focus should be on health at every size!
It turns out that repeated attempts at weight loss increase the likelihood of eating disorders and poor body image in both adults and kids. The focus should be on health at every size!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Still wanting comfort food
I'm still recovering from a medical procedure I had in November, and my urge is still to have the foods that comfort me. My energy is low, pain and sleep are a problem, and it's easy to begin to feel sorry for myself.
In such times, it becomes clear to me what an intimate relationship I have with food. Of course, we all do, but I think about food a lot. No feelings that I'm out of control with food, just need to feel very satisfied when I eat.
Recent favorite foods are toast and jam, pasta with cheese, veggies and olive oil, baked chicken and veggies, rice pudding, baked apples, baked fish and boiled potatoes. Tonight I'm making a sheperd's pie with ground turkey, onions, celery, garlic, peas, corn and sweet potatoes. Yum. I'll let you know how it turns out!
In such times, it becomes clear to me what an intimate relationship I have with food. Of course, we all do, but I think about food a lot. No feelings that I'm out of control with food, just need to feel very satisfied when I eat.
Recent favorite foods are toast and jam, pasta with cheese, veggies and olive oil, baked chicken and veggies, rice pudding, baked apples, baked fish and boiled potatoes. Tonight I'm making a sheperd's pie with ground turkey, onions, celery, garlic, peas, corn and sweet potatoes. Yum. I'll let you know how it turns out!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Eating Disorders vs. Disordered Eating
In the world of medical professionals who treat eating disorders, there are specific criteria for diagnosing someone with one of these disorders. There are 3 main categories of eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. There's also something called "eating disorder not otherwise specified", which means you've got an eating disorder but it doesn't fit neatly into one of these categories.
These categories are defined in a book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, a listing of psychological disorders. For each, there is a set of criteria that a patient must meet to receive the diagnosis. This is so that we are all clear what disorder you've got, and for insurance reimbursement.
As someone who treats eating disorders, I see a lot of people who don't meet the criteria for one of these disorders, but are never-the-less in a lot of emotional pain about their relationship with food. We all have a relationship with food, even though food is a set of inanimate objects. If food is making the decisions about when, what and how much you eat, rather than you making these decisions, I think you have a disordered relationship with food.
These categories are defined in a book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, a listing of psychological disorders. For each, there is a set of criteria that a patient must meet to receive the diagnosis. This is so that we are all clear what disorder you've got, and for insurance reimbursement.
As someone who treats eating disorders, I see a lot of people who don't meet the criteria for one of these disorders, but are never-the-less in a lot of emotional pain about their relationship with food. We all have a relationship with food, even though food is a set of inanimate objects. If food is making the decisions about when, what and how much you eat, rather than you making these decisions, I think you have a disordered relationship with food.
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