WIN Wyoming

Thought Bullets
for
January 1999

The following excerpts are from a television program by Frontline, which aired on the Public Broadcast System on November 3, 1998:

• Men who were fat, but fit, had no increased mortality rate. Lack of fitness may be a more important indicator of wellness than fatness.

• When we see individuals in heights varying from 4 ½ feet to 6 ½ feet, we accept this as normal from genetic diversity. We are not as quick to accept a genetic tie to body size, even though research suggests there is a very strong link between the two.

• When we talk about body image we can give a message of either hope or despair.  Hope:  I can have a healthy body. Despair:   I can have a perfect body.

• Poor body image is so prevalent in our society, it is now often accepted as normal.

• Currently the obesity rate in the United States is doubling every 7 years.

• Food has been industrialized.  Food is now planted, harvested, transported, manufactured, and promoted on an industry-wide basis. This is a dramatic change from time when families planted, harvested and prepared their own food.

• It has never been easier to become fat. It has never been less acceptable to be fat.

Source:   Thomas, A.  "Fat," a program of Frontline and WGBH, Boston.  Program aired on November 3, 1998.  Program transcript available at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/fat/etc/script.html.

Compiled by Betty Holmes, MS, RD, 4-H Youth Specialist, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Wyoming; bholmes@uwyo.edu.

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