Helping the hefty 'improve fitness level'Take Xina Sy's body weight and divide it twice by her height in inches. Then, multiply that number by 703. Using this formula, you'll find that her "body mass index," or BMI, is somewhere around 32. The National Institutes of Health indicates that adults who have a BMI of 25 or more are at risk for premature death, a consequence of their surplus weight. So, considering Sy's calculated BMI, you could say she's a hefty gal, indeed. But Sy has another mathematical theory for you: Contrary to popular belief, "hefty" does not automatically equal "unhealthy." "I'm a big girl, sure," said Sy. "That's what the men say when I'm walking down the street. They say, 'Hey, what's up, big girl?' It's a compliment. I like that. Big is beautiful, sexy and bold." The facts are cliché now -- America is officially fat (and, no, that's not with a "ph"). But here's the skinny anyway: Recent studies have shown that American males and females of all ages, races and socio-economic backgrounds are more obese than ever. And those tens of millions of obese American adults, if they want to live longer, had better lose that weight before they turn 35, according to a study published last week in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Dutch researchers analyzed thousands of vital statistics collected from Massachusetts volunteers from 1948 to 1990. They found that people who are overweight when they hit their mid-30s have a greater risk of dying prematurely than do normal-weightpeople. Also, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 15 percent of children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 years are overweight and inactive. Overweight and obese people are at a much higher risk for developing diabetes or hypertension, or having a heart attack or stroke. "Most striking is the explosion of diabetes," said Dr. James R. Gavin III, president of Morehouse School of Medicine. But even though being overweight and obese is becoming "epidemic," according to the CDC, there is a growing scientific interest in finding out whether exercise and eating well might reduce some of the dangers touted by the studies. For example, with "regular physical activity like simply walking for 150 minutes a week, and losing a relatively modest amount of weight -- 10 to 15 pounds -- a 200-pound person can reduce his risk of developing diabetes by 60 percent," Gavin said. Sy -- a 33-year-old Atlanta fitness expert -- also believes that regular exercise might dispel much of the obesity-equals-sickness equation. On Wednesday, she will officially release an exercise documentary video that shares stories of plus-size women struggling with body issues. "I'm not selling a quick fix for losing weight overnight," she said. "I'm talking about a lifestyle change, a realistic, healthy alternative for a real-life situation." Sy, mother of three girls ages 11 to 17, fell into the beauty trap at a young age. She spent years trying to become the woman she never could -- a size 2 voluptu-waif with those laughable 38-22-36 measurements that only the likes of Barbie could boast. "Name the diet, I was on it at some point or another," Sy said. Her love affair with food was motivational; it calmed her self-doubt while simultaneously pumping her up to a morbidly obese 300 pounds. Sy would occasionally find a program that helped her shed some of the weight, but in time the pounds would find their way back. "Finally," Sy said, "I decided to heck with all the diets and exercise machines. I'm going to start doing what feels right and realistic to me." She became certified as an aerobics instructor and started Women's Fitness Plus, an exercise program catering to full-figured women. Sy, now a size 16, worked particularly with large women, helping them build their bodies and spirits. "These women are an underserved market," she said. "My main mission was to help them feel good about themselves, not just to lose weight." College Park resident Lynda Bright lost 155 pounds with Sy's help. After cozying up to obesity for, like, forever, the 6-foot-tall mother of five decided to give health a chance. Today, she's reaping the rewards. "I've been invited to do a marathon for the American Stroke Association," she beamed. "Xina helped me to get here." Some 'normal, healthy' Steven Blair has been weighing obesity issues for decades as president and chief executive officer of the Dallas-based Cooper Institute, a nonprofit research center that studies relationships between living habits and health. Blair asserts that a person can definitely be fit and fat. In fact, he poses an important question: Is it possible to be thin and unhealthy? Blair answers himself, "People never think of that. Thin people get hypertension. Some get diabetes. Some have heart attacks. You can find skinny couch potatoes." Blair detests bias and discrimination against overweight and obese individuals, yet recognizes that size-based prejudice exists. "It permeates our society," he said. "We find it wherever we look." Which isn't to suggest that Blair discounts decades of study corroborating a secure connection between obesity and health problems. "But that's far from saying that every overweight person has high blood pressure, high cholesterol, will have a heart attack," he said. "A sizable percentage of overweight people are normal and healthy." Jazzercise misstep Former Athens resident Jennifer Portnick filed a complaint with the San Francisco Human Rights Commission under the city's "short and fat" law, an ordinance banning discrimination based on weight and height. After applying for instructor certification with Jazzercise, the 200-plus-pound Portnick received an e-mail from the manager stressing the company's "fit appearance" standard and stipulating that Portnick lose weight to be considered, with the invitation, "when you do that, feel free to reapply." Portnick declined. After frustrating years of failed attempts at dieting, she was not up for losing weight simply to get a job she'd already proved she could perform. Instead, she filed the complaint, which ultimately led to Jazzercise dropping its "fit appearance" requirement last year. Today, Portnick, a certified aerobics instructor, teaches her own form of exercise classes called "Feeling Good Fitness." Jazzercise spokeswoman Tomi Kagei maintains that her company recruits and certifies all sorts of instructors. "We're looking at endurance levels, dance technique, movement skills and physical ability," she said. Reducing risks Joanne Ikeda was pleased with Portnick's victory. As co-director of the Center for Weight and Health at the University of California in Berkeley, Ikeda heads research on cultural problems, myths and stereotypes centered around obesity and health. Like Blair at the Cooper Institute, Ikeda is certain it is possible to be fat and fit. "There's a strong research base showing that fat people can reduce their chronic disease risk and increase their longevity by becoming physically fit," she said. "Studies have shown that becoming more physically fit and having a better diet can reduce the risk of diabetes as well as cardiovascular problems." The problem, Ikeda suggests, is that the fat-can-be-fit thinkers are up against a barrage of doctors, nurses, dietitians and academicians using the strength of traditional thinking. "They don't want to get this message out," Ikeda said, "because then people won't want to try to lose weight. Of course, 95 percent of people who lose weight by dieting regain it in two to five years. We'd be much better off not focusing on dieting, but helping people improve their fitness level and let their weight fall where it may." Don't be misled by Xina Sy's 32 BMI. Sure, according to many health experts, she is obviously too big for her own good. But it's possible that past the expanse of skin is the operation of a healthy, wholesome body machine. Sy's mission is to motivate the massive and get them moving toward health, public opinion notwithstanding. "It's my greater purpose," she said, "to help others love themselves to health." For more information If you're hefty but would like to be healthier, here are some resources:
• Xina Sy, an Atlanta fitness expert and motivator, strives to help overweight men and women love themselves first, regardless of their size. This attitude, she says, and a healthy lifestyle will lead to fitness of mind, spirit and body. Her new exercise documentary video, "Real Fitness," is available through her Web site for $19.95.
• Jennifer Portnick of San Francisco filed a complaint after Jazzercise rejected her application as an aerobics instructor because of her appearance. She won, and now teaches her own form of "gay friendly/size friendly" aerobics.
• The Center for Weight and Health at the University of California in Berkeley facilitates the interaction of researchers, policy-makers and community-based providers who are concerned about issues of weight and health.
• The Cooper Institute in Dallas is a research and education center that investigates the relationship between living habits and health in an effort to promote the physical and emotional well-being of individuals. • To read Jazzercise's news release about Jennifer Portnick's complaint, visit www.jazzercize.com and click on Media Center. Charlotte Moore writes for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution |
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