There was an article in the most recent New York Times Magazine talking about people from across different continents and cultures consistently under judging their own weight if they are overweight.
In a large study in Mexico out of 3,622 young men and women, when asked to estimate their body size based on categories ranging from very underweight to obese. People who were in the normal range of weight for their body type answered the questions accurately 80% of the time. 58% of the time overweight students incorrectly described themselves as "normal weight".
This is significant because it speaks to a larger issue of accurate body reflection which can create problems as you age with health issues that are associated with being overweight and obesity. "The relative size of our body parts needs to be continuously updated or recalibrated," says Henrik Ehrsson, leading author of a study from the cognitive neuroscience department at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
Certainly some people answer incorrectly because they are embarrassed by their real boy shape, but the consistent inaccuracy speaks to their being a neurological reasoning for the incorrect understanding.
A slight misrepresentation may seem unimportant to many, but researchers found that young children with heavy parents and peers were incorrect about their own body shape most frequently. The problem with this becoming a socially acceptable norm is that they are never motivated to change to a lifestyle including regular exercise or even movement and a healthier diet. This leads to long-term weight related health issues beginning at a younger and younger age.
My hope is that we as a society can break this concerning pattern for our younger generation.
Friday 04/27/12- Workout Diary:
Biking- 15.41 miles, 75 minutes
Strength Training- Back ( I'm really trying to get rid of the mid-life bra bulge and muffies at my waist)
One arm dumbbell row- 20 lb
Back Row- 2 tubes
Lat pull down-2 tubes
Bent over row- 26 lb pole
Single arm back pull- 2 tubes
Ski jumper- 1 tube
Pull over on stability ball
Friday 04/27/12- Food Diary:
Breakfast-
whole wheat waffle (120cal)
1/2 cup pears (25 cal) *
1/3 cup non-fat vanilla yogurt (40)*
blended these to use instead of syrup
1/2 non fat cottage cheese (80 cal)
A.M. Snack-
whey protein shake, 1/4 cup pasteurized egg whites (190 cal)
Lunch -
1 black-bean burger on a whole-grain thin bun, with 3 slices of avocado, Cajun spices, and non-fat feta(280 cal)
1 cup low sodium lentil soup ( made for my family a few days ago from a Cooking light recipe) (100 cal)
P.M. Snack-
apple (67 cal) *
1 whole wheat tortilla (100 cal) *
2 tbs Organic Almond Butter (180 cal)*
*wrap all this together
Dinner-
3 oz. Salmon (150 cal)
2 tbls sauce for fish- Greek yogurt, dill, cucumber (60 cal)
3/4 cup grilled onions/zucchini (70 cal)
1/2 cup curry brown rice(210 cal)
Dessert-
Homemade popcorn(110 cal)
TOTAL CALORIES- 1563
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