THE TRUTH ABOUT WEIGHT

How many times have you felt anxious after stepping on the scale? Although weight is a common health indicator, it doesn’t give a full picture of your health. 

The Gulf Health Council emphasised that weight is not an accurate measure of well-being, and diet fads can do more harm than good. True beauty begins with your health and awareness of your daily habits. It also noted that 28 per cent of teenagers have poor nutritional knowledge, and 60 per cent of parents are unfamiliar with it. 

A healthy weight is more than just a number on the scale. It’s a state of balance that reflects how well an individual’s weight aligns with their overall health. The ideal weight isn’t necessarily the most beautiful or suitable for you as an individual, but it does overlap with a healthy weight that helps prevent disease. Understanding this difference helps you set realistic and sustainable goals. 

A common mistake is focusing solely on weight as a number on the scale, as it’s not an accurate indicator of the body’s composition, including muscle mass, fat, organs, water, tissues, and more. Anyone seeking a balanced life should adopt a diet that maintains good health and an ideal physique. The key is to follow a healthy diet as a lifestyle and not to pursue trends aimed solely at weight loss. 

With the alarming rise in obesity rates and related chronic diseases, understanding healthy weight and how to achieve and maintain it has become essential. According to the World Health Organization, obesity rates have increased significantly worldwide, particularly in the Arab region, where some statistics indicate that more than 60 per cent of adults in the GCC are overweight. 

People have traditionally associated thinness with well-being and weight gain with disease, but research shows that this perception may not be accurate. A person who eats a balanced diet, exercises regularly, and has ideal blood pressure and cholesterol readings may sometimes be labelled ‘unhealthy’ simply because their weight on the scale is higher than expected. 

Conversely, someone else may appear to be within the normal weight range but lives on processed foods and is largely sedentary. It is essential to prepare balanced meals that include a mix of carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. This ensures that the body receives everything it needs to perform its vital functions optimally and reduces the risk of nutritional deficiencies. Doctors explain that weight does not reflect the quality of food consumed, the level of physical activity, the quality of sleep, or stress levels. 

It also does not reveal the location of body fat, which is crucial. Visceral fat, which surrounds internal organs, is more strongly associated with health risks such as heart disease, diabetes and some types of cancer than fat just under the skin. 

A study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology showed that a high waist-to-hip ratio is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes, even in individuals with a normal overall weight. Furthermore, studies indicate that an excessive focus on weight can be counterproductive, leading to stress, eating disorders and even hindering weight loss efforts. 

Research has shown that the stigma of obesity does not motivate individuals to change their lifestyles; instead, it can lead to increased isolation or eating disorders. There is a growing need for a re-evaluation of how good health is measured, emphasising instead the quality of diet, exercise, sleep quality and stress management.