The Cost of Fat-Shaming | Opinion – Harvard Crimson

Posted on by

There was a moment last year when pop artist Lizzo was getting wall-to-wall favorable coverage. On top of the success of her newest album, she was applauded for proudly displaying her body something that a few years earlier, might have been unthinkable. In her 2019 Time Entertainer of the Year profile, she credited her fame to a culture change.

There were a lot of things that werent popular but existed, she said, like body positivity, which at first was a form of protest for fat bodies and black women and has now become a trendy, commercialized thing Suddenly, Im mainstream.

Traditionally, fat women have been scorned in American pop culture. Maybe the embrace of her appearance would signify a new era of body positivity.

It didnt last for very long. Though she was able to stave them off for a little bit, Lizzos detractors soon went beyond critiquing her music to dissecting her physical appearance, often in ways that were demeaning and cruel. Posting a picture of herself in a bikini sparked accusations of being a public health hazard apparently, having the audacity to go to the pool means that youre encouraging people to eat themselves into prediabetes.

Fat-shaming is clearly detrimental: It seriously impacts the mental health of those who are overweight. A lot of fat-shamers claim that theyre actually being helpful; by humiliating people in their telling theyre encouraging them to lead healthier lives. Predictably, none of them seem to be actual nutritionists.

A fixation on other peoples weight isnt just damaging to fat people; it's bad for all of us. An obsession with the aesthetics of health, rather than habits that actually support a healthy lifestyle, encourages harmful behaviors to mold our bodies into socially acceptable forms. Eating disorders, unhealthy diets, and overexercising are all ignored, as long as youre slim enough. The priority is appearance, not health.

In previous columns, Ive written about my own body image issues. Apparently, my self-hatred was surprising to a lot of my friends and family; this is probably because Im not overweight and never have been. For me, a dislike of my body wasnt triggered by off-hand comments by people I knew; it was primarily driven by a fear that if I were fat, it would mean that I was worthless.

I dont know exactly where this fear came from, but I suspect that it was instilled in me by the culture at large through some toxic osmotic process. At some point, it's hard to ignore the bombardment of messages, both subtle and overt, about what our bodies should look like. The upshot of fat-shaming is paranoia, even in those who arent overweight. It feeds anxiety that one will become fat and therefore deemed less-than.

Through conversations with older people, Ive come to realize that this toxic sentiment might be a relatively new phenomenon, at least in how widespread it is. While I dont know a single girl in my high school who didnt have at least some insecurities about her body, my parents had an entirely different experience: Eating disorders, at least in their perception, were rare and infrequently discussed.

However, there is a long history of disordered eating among the wealthy and famous. I wonder, given the influence of social media, if such pressure to make ones body ready for public consumption has now been pressed onto all of us. Social media accounts are meant to be looked at, which is why people often feel pressured to present the best version of themselves. Unfortunately, they are constantly told that that best version is skinny.

For reasons that are perhaps obvious, I recently deleted my Instagram account. When I was in middle school, Id spend hours scrolling through my feed, comparing my completely normal 13-year-old body to 20-year-old models or girls in my school who were skinnier than me. Id often see posts from body-positive influencers, who were inevitably pilloried by faceless accounts with negative comments about their bodies, their diets, and their life choices. Today, when I see how women with similar body types, like Lizzo, are ridiculed across the internet, I think about my younger self, and girls who are that age right now are they learning the same things that I did?

The need for kindness to ourselves and others is ever more pressing. We should focus, more than anything else, on how we can care for each other. Disparaging comments, whether verbal or virtual, about other peoples bodies can only hurt us.

Rebecca E.J. Cadenhead 23 lives in Canaday Hall. Her column appears on alternate Tuesdays.

Here is the original post:
The Cost of Fat-Shaming | Opinion - Harvard Crimson

Lungs, Heart, Brain: The Health Risks Of Vaping That Doctors Know And The Ones They Don’t – Colorado Public Radio

Posted on by

How do you solve a problem like Colorados teen vaping rate, the highest in the nation?

Thats the question lawmakers are gathering on Wednesday to try and answer. Theyll be asking questions about all things vaping as they consider new measures to stop the epidemic, including what the science shows about health risks.

A group of doctors at Childrens Hospital Colorado had a few insights they'd like to offer.

Among them was lung expert Dr. Robin Deterding who, when it comes to talking about the health risks of vaping, is blunt.

You're inhaling a chemistry experiment, Deterding said. And that's bad for your lungs."

Companies marketed vape pens as a safer alternative to cigarettes, but the research thats emerging suggests some of the potential dangers are similar. Take for example the puffy clouds that come out of a vape device, known as second-hand vapor.

I think we do believe second-hand vape smoke can stimulate asthma exacerbations of asthma problems, said Deterding, who is the medical director of the Breathing Institute and chief of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at Childrens Hospital Colorado.

Those clouds contain potentially harmful substances.

When we asked CPRs audience what they wanted to know about the health risks of vaping, one wondered: What are the long-term side effects of nicotine addiction once a child has started vaping?

Its a critical question, since the magnitude of the number of our youth that are participating in some degree of vaping is extraordinary, Deterding said.

Many teens believe theyre inhaling harmless water vapor. But it can actually contain high concentrations of nicotine as well as particles linked to lung disease and cancer. The doctors say vaping impacts young peoplein at least three key areas: the lungs, the heart and the brain.

First, the lungs, where those foreign substances can harm tiny, delicate airways, Deterding said.

If you're going to do it long term? We're seeing some of these airways you have air tubes that lead out to these air sacs and the cells in those air tubes are also being damaged, she said.

It was this kind of damage that caused the recent rash of vaping-linked lung illness, hospitalizing more than 2700 people and leading to 64 deaths. Health officials blame vitamin E acetate, an additive in some THC-containing e-cigarettes, as the culprit in many cases.Another study has found a link between vaping and increased odds of asthma and chronic lung disease. Long-term risks are real because the lungs are so sensitive.

Once you start a scarring process, it's very difficult to reverse, Deterding said.

Beyond the lungs, research suggests vaping may also be bad for the heart as well.

We know that cigarette smoking has a very negative impact on the arteries and the heart, said Steve Daniels, the pediatrician-in-chief at Childrens Hospital Colorado and the chair of the CU Anschutz Medical Campus pediatrics department.

Cigarettes can raise blood pressure and heart rates and can cause vascular disease. Scientists arent sure if the same is true for e-cigarettes, but more and more studies are raising alarms, Daniels said. One last year found adults using e-cigarettes had higher risks of heart attack and coronary artery disease compared with non-users.

Daniels said more research is still needed.

(Vaping) hasn't even been around long enough to know what the chronic effects might be, but maybe we don't even need to know that because we do know that for those who are vaping nicotine, it's incredibly addictive, he said.

That gets to e-cigarettes third big health risk: addiction, to which teens are especially vulnerable. The e-cigarette industry says its products are meant to help adults quit smoking. But Daniels said many young vapers will go on to become smokers.

Kids, as they become adults, may switch to smoking and then we know very well what the impacts of that are, he said.

Nicotine can harm adolescent brain development and alter brain chemistry. Child psychiatrist Joel Stoddard said that, at least in research on young animals, there are permanent changes in neural pathways for attention and memory.

And it makes you more prone to goosing that reward system, Stoddard said.

That means teens who vape arent just at risk for nicotine addiction. Theyre also vulnerable to mood disorders and reduction in impulse control. Nicotine can also impact attention and learning.

So, how do we help young people quit vaping, another CPR listener wondered.

It's a good question, Stoddard said. And a hard one.

There's not a lot of good evidence for any kind of treatment, Stoddard said.

There have been decades of investigation into quitting smoking traditional cigarettes, and Stoddard suspects some of those programs and medications may well work for young vapers.

The goal now is to find out what parts of those work, translate them over for vaping, and to implement those programs on the treatment side. And of course, we need the prevention in the first place, he said.

Another CPR listener wanted to know which is really worse: vaping or cigarettes. Daniels says though more is known about cigarettes, the answer is they're both bad."

"And they may be extra bad because they reinforce each other, and you almost can't think of one without the other," he said.

If you look at all the bodily systems affected, neither has a place in a healthy lifestyle, Daniels said.

With cigarettes, peer pressure and support can help teens quit, Stoddard said. But with vaping, thats a challenge, since so many young people are doing it.

Another obstacle is the scale of the problem, Daniels said.

When you think about 10 percent of middle schoolers and 30 percent of high schoolers (who regularly use e-cigarettes), that's a fair number of kids that need help now, he said. I think it's a public health emergency.

Stoddard agreed, noting one key study that found the rate of teens vaping nicotine had shot up in an unprecedented fashion.

In the 45 years the survey has been going on, no other substance has risen so high in so short a time, Stoddard said.

More here:
Lungs, Heart, Brain: The Health Risks Of Vaping That Doctors Know And The Ones They Don't - Colorado Public Radio

Business Executives urged to maintain healthy lifestyle – Vanguard … – Vanguard

Posted on by

By Elizabeth Uwandu

Executives in businesses and corporate organisations have been tasked to maintain healthy lifestyle, or risk ruining their establishments. This was the focus of the seminar tagged, Sick and tired of being sick and tired, organised by Seyi Wright of Potters Hospitality Foundation, PHF.

Speaking on the executive health seminar that run from 23rd -26th August, 2017, in Ikoyi, Wright, the senior associate consultant and chief executive officer, Leadership and Vision Limited, said that the need for leaders in businesses and corporate organisations to have a balance health owing to the high rates of issues such as low productivity, pressure and stress that sometimes lead to suicide by executives was the main purpose of the seminar.

His words, We believe that improving the productivity of a nation, community and organisations starts with the people. When the physical, mental, emotional health of the people improve, productivity is enhanced, more profits generated, then employment can increase.

So, when we speak about executive health, we are not just referring to the seniors but also executives at various levels in the organisation, who make different types of contribution and also go through varied types of work pressure. added the consultant.

Speaking on the some health challenges faced by the mangers, founder, PHF noted that, For most executives, a fundamental issue is stress which may manifest in various forms. Stress simply means the inability of the executive to cope effectively with the challenges faced which can also affect mental and emotional health.

There may be consequent lowering of self-esteem, increased blood pressure, cardiac challenges, increased psychosomatic illnesses and so on. There have been many sad stories of executive health challenges, some being fatal;

Since the demands on the executives are unlikely to change in most organisations , the affected persons need to find a way to cope better. That is where the conference comes in. We can assist various levels of executives to be healthier while improving their productivity added the former bank managing director .

Speakers at the health talk included Emily Oken MD, MPH, a Professor in the department of Population Medicine ,Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, and in the department of Nutrition at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health; Chinweike Ukomadu, a translational medicine expert and director at Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Who also was an attending physician and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School; and David Addo who is Naturopath & Lifestyle Consultant as well as the CEO of the GoodLife Naturopathic Clinic.

Excerpt from:
Business Executives urged to maintain healthy lifestyle - Vanguard ... - Vanguard

Life Time Expands Presence in Missouri with Grand Opening Celebration of Massive Athletic Resort in Frontenac on Dec. 12 – Webster County Citizen

Posted on by

FRONTENAC, Mo., Dec. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --Life Time, the premier healthy lifestyle brand, is bringing its second athletic lifestyle resort to Missouri. The opening of Life Time Frontenac, located just 15 minutes from the heart of St. Louis, brings the Life Time count to 149 destinations across 40 states and 30 major markets in the U.S. and Canada.

To celebrate the massive opening, city officials and Life Time leaders will be present for a grand opening ribbon-cutting and event on Thursday, December 12 from 6pm-8pm. Following an exclusive weekend opening for its first Founding Members from December 13-15, the club will officially open to all members on Monday, December 16 at 5am.

Life Time Frontenac will provide its members with an unmatched, complete health and wellness experience including personalized training programs, an array of group fitness classes, a fast-casual caf, luxurious spa, and other world-class amenities.

"It's been more than 11 years since Life Time first came to Missouri with our West County-Chesterfield location and we've been honored to help so many members live healthier, happier lives," saidJeff Zwiefel, executive vice president and chief operating officer. "With the opening of Life Time Frontenac, we're eager to bring ourunmatched health and wellness experience to even more people with first-class services, amenities and programs for all ages."

Highlights of the more than $55 million Diamond Club destination include:

Life Time Frontenac will be open seven days a week from 5am to 11pm at 2051 South Lindbergh Blvd, Frontenac, MO 63131. A wide range of membership options are available for individuals, couples, and families. For more information, please call (314)-888-0806 or visit their website. You can also check out Life Time on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram.

About Life Time Healthy Way of Life Life Time champions a healthy and happy life for its members across 149 destinations in 40 major markets in the U.S. and Canada. As the nation's only Healthy Way of Life brand, Life Time delivers an unmatched athletic resort experience that goes well beyond fitness to encompass the entire spectrum of daily life. Building upon its current portfolio, Life Timeis building its brand through thedevelopment of large, mixed-use lifestyle centers that feature Life Time resorts, Life Time Workco-working spaces and Life Time Living high-end leased residences. These concepts, combined with distinctive programming, encompass the full spectrum of a healthy living, healthy aging and healthy entertainment experience for individuals, couples and families of all ages.

See the article here:
Life Time Expands Presence in Missouri with Grand Opening Celebration of Massive Athletic Resort in Frontenac on Dec. 12 - Webster County Citizen

Improve Life Expectancy By Adding This Spice To Your Daily Meal – International Business Times

Posted on by

KEY POINTS

The rule is pretty simple. Lead a healthy lifestyle, and in most cases, it will be enough to improve your lifespan. Regularly consuming a healthy and balanced meal plays an important role in keeping life-threatening diseases at bay. At the same time, doing so will also improve your lifespan.

Some foods can threaten your life expectancy. These foods increase your risk of fatal health conditions, like heart attacks and strokes. Various health organizations reveal that in the UK, thousands of lives are claimed by such ailments annually. This is why evaluating your diet is an important first step towards warding off such health risks.

A Lifesaving Ingredient

Many studies did show that diet plays a major role in improving your lifespan. You can go a step further than that by adding an ingredient that recent studies say can further boost longevity.

According to a recent study which has been published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, eating chili peppers can help lower stroke and heart attack risks. This bolsters the findings of past studies that say such ingredients can help your health in many ways.

chili to improve life expectancy Photo: Sponchia - Pixabay

Following the Mediterranean Way

The study which was conducted in Italy made a comparison of the risk of death in 23,000 individuals. Researchers divided them into two groups and classified them, one group, as chili pepper-eaters and the other group as those who do not eat chili peppers.

The health statuses of the participants and their eating habits were observed over eight years. After this period, researchers discovered that the risk of dying from a stroke or heart attack among chili pepper-eaters was 40% lower compared to those who do not eat chili. The researchers noted that positive results are more dominant with individuals who are consuming chili peppers at least four times each week.

According to Marialaura Bonaccio, the studys lead author, it is interesting to note that such mortality risk protection was independent of the diet type that the participants followed. Bonaccio is an epidemiologist based at the Mediterranean Neurological Institute or Neuromed.

The lead author also said this means, a person can follow a healthy Mediterranean diet while another may eat less-healthy foods and still be protected by consuming chili pepper. To collate the findings, researchers analyzed data from 25,000 participants of the Moli-Sani study, which was conducted in the Molise region in southern Italy.

Read the rest here:
Improve Life Expectancy By Adding This Spice To Your Daily Meal - International Business Times

Danone Talk #10 – Healthy Lifestyle through Running with Anggia Silalahi – Video

Posted on by


Danone Talk #10 - Healthy Lifestyle through Running with Anggia Silalahi
Danone Talk is a series of talk manage by HR Groupe Danone Indonesia every month. We invite guest speaker to Danone Office to share their inspiring thoughts story and give informal workshop...

By: Danone Indonesia

Read more from the original source:
Danone Talk #10 - Healthy Lifestyle through Running with Anggia Silalahi - Video