Most of us girls have looked in the mirror at one time or another and wished we could lose a few more pounds from somewhere on our body. Just a little more off the hips, or waist, or thighs would work wonders for me fitting into my dream dress size, we rationalize.
While losing excess fat is good – for physical health as well as body image issues - how much is too much fat and weight loss? How does someone cross the line between a normal attitude to weight loss, and ultimate fat hatred, and what are some of the implications when a woman becomes too skinny? Pop culture and certain media have a lot to do with the way we measure the worthiness of our body size. Millions of women all over the world look at size zero supermodels wearing the latest fashions and want to fit into those dresses – or at least a slightly larger version of the styles. So, they might engage in weird weight loss strategies such as excessive physical exercise, fasting, yo-yo dieting, and taking diuretics, which ultimately lands them as victims of serious eating disorders (Anorexia, Binge eating, Bulimia), and a body that might be too skinny to sustain and maintain physical and mental health and stability. Deficiency of essential body fat leads to the loss of other vital chemicals necessary for healthy sustainability of body and mind. Some of the negative outcomes of being skinny are related to Reproductive issues, Depression, Arthritis and Heart disease, Lung disease, and broken bone.
So now ladies, do you still think you really need to lose those extra pounds?
Reproductive Issues
Women who possess a considerably low BMI are at higher risk of miscarriage in the first trimester of their pregnancy. It is found that the female hormone Oestrogen is relatively low in the body of skinny women which is very necessary for a healthy pregnancy. The production of Oestrogen is directly proportional to the fat cells of the body, and since skinny women fail to maintain healthy fat levels, oestrogen production is heavily hampered. Pregnant women who have a skinny stature are likely to develop hyperemesis gravidarum, a medical condition caused due to excessive morning sickness. This leads to severe malnutrition and dehydration which ultimately affects the fetal growth. These women require emergency hospitalization more frequently than their normal counterparts.
Depression
Depression is related to the production of Serotonin, a brain chemical which is also called the "happiness hormone". Since the body of skinny individuals lacks an essential amino acid called Tryptophan, the production of serotonin is severely hampered. As a result the person is more likely to develop problems like mood swings, low self confidence, lack of interest and energy in doing something.
Arthritis & Heart disease
Skinny persons are likely to develop a weird yet deadly combination of Arthritis and heart disease together. Scientific research has proven that skinny individuals are at three times greater risk of developing arthritis and heart disease than those with a healthy weight. It is quite evident that being skinny makes a person develop arthritis very early in their life time due to the scarcity of necessary vitamins and minerals. But this tendency (Rheumatoid arthritis) doubles the risk of heart attack in a person. This condition is known as Atherosclerosis, where tiny plaques get deposited inside the arterial wall causing blockade. It (chronic immune inflammatory disorder) increases the chances of sudden heart attacks or strokes leading to death caused by cardiac arrest.
Lung Disease
Skinny women are susceptible to an array of lung disease like Bronchitis, Pneumonia and Asthma. According to clinical research, skinny older women are highly immune deficient as they lack enough Adipokines which are cells secreted by fatty tissues to regulate immunity and inflammation of body cells. Along with that they reportedly have a lower level of female hormone Oestrogen, which acts as a body cushion against a number of degenerative diseases. It is also seen than slender individuals are at greater risk of developing symptomatic disorder called Pneumothorax (collapsed lung), where a person could develop a punctured lung due to a fractured rib or trauma to the chest cavity. In case of slender individuals this situation may arise suddenly withoutany apparent reason (spontaneous pneumothorax).This leads to leakage of air from the blebs of Lungs which is trapped in the pleural cavity.
Broken Bones
Skinny women are more prone to fractures especially that of the hip bone. As the bone density of their body is relatively low, it makes them more prone to fracture of major joints. The body of skinny females (as with middle aged females) lacks a considerable amount of the hormone, Oestrogen, which is secreted by the fat cells of the body. This female hormone plays a vital role in maintaining bone health and low levels of this hormone makes the bone porous and frail (resulting in Osteoporosis) and susceptible to breakage with the slightest jerk. With this condition skinny individuals become unfit to take part in various sports activities like running, jumping and weight lifting.
So now ladies, do you still think you really need to lose those extra pounds?
Charmaine Daisley, Associate Editor Health & Fitness Magazine