Reframing Weight Loss

Image from Water Science School

Why do we use weight as an indicator of health? One reason is that it's easy to measure. But just because it's easy doesn't mean it's the whole picture. Then, layer in our culture's messages about weight, and it can become a toxic topic.

I looked this up on Google AI, and though I did not check for accuracy, the response resonates with me. My summary is that weight is simple to use at the population level but becomes less useful at the bio-individual level. Google says, “weight, specifically through the Body Mass Index (BMI), is often used as an indicator of health because it provides a simple, standardized measure for comparing individuals and populations. It's a relatively quick and easy way to assess whether someone's weight is within a healthy range based on their height.

Here's why it's used, along with some important caveats:

Reasons for Use:

1. Standardization.

2. Risk Assessment.

3. Public Health Tool.

4. Screening Tool.

Important Considerations:

1. BMI is not a perfect measure.

2. Fat distribution matters.

3. Other factors are important.

4. Individual variation.

5. Weight stigma.

In conclusion: While BMI is a useful tool for broad population assessments and risk screening, it's important to remember that it's not a perfect measure of individual health. A holistic approach that considers various health indicators and individual circumstances is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of someone's well-being.”

What's in the body weight measurement? According to Dr. Gabrielle Lyon in her book, Forever Strong, “Roughly 60 percent of your body is water; half of the remaining 40 percent is protein. Your bones, ligaments, tendons, liver, brain, skin, and fingernails are all built from proteins."

Here's a more detailed breakdown from Google AI when I asked what proportion of your body is water, fat, and protein.

1. Water: The human body is predominantly water, with an average of around 60-70% of total body weight. This percentage can fluctuate based on factors like age, sex, and body composition.

2. Fat: Body fat percentage varies significantly between individuals, influenced by factors like age, sex, and activity level. Fat tissue contains less water than lean tissue.

3. Protein: Protein constitutes a large proportion of the body's mass, excluding water and fat. It is a key component of muscles, bones, organs, and other tissues.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey of the U.S. Department of the Interior's web page, , water does many crucial things for your body that you may not be aware of.

Water serves a number of essential functions to keep us all going:

1. A vital nutrient to the life of every cell, acts first as a building material.

2. It regulates our internal body temperature by sweating and respiration

3. The carbohydrates and proteins that our bodies use as food are metabolized and transported by water in the bloodstream;

4. It assists in flushing waste mainly through urination

5. acts as a shock absorber for brain, spinal cord, and fetus

6. forms saliva, which helps with the first phase of digestion

7. lubricates joints

Further, several of your vital organs are also largely water:

1. Brain 75% Water

2. Blood 83% Water

3. Heart 79% Water

4. Muscles 75% Water

5. Liver 85% Water

6. Kidneys 83% Water

Even your bones are 22% water. Water's essential role in every cell of our body is a reason why it is one of the key elements of my Signature Program, which uses the acronym I CHEWS ME as the framework back to better health.

The program is designed to help hard-working high-achieving midlife women on the verge of burnout, to get back to feeling like themselves again by guiding them through the 8 pillars of the I CHEWS ME(TM) framework: Intention, Connection, Habits, Environment, Water, Stress-reduction, Mindset, Eating.