The UK is a nation of -porkers- discuss

Well, apparently I'm skinny, or so I've been told on many occasions.

In reality, my BMI is absolutely perfect, but my natural build (especially my narrow face, I think) must affect how I look.

Its strange, isn't it, how it seems to be widely regarded as ok to say this to someone's face, whereas very few of us would tell someone to their face that they are fat!
It's also quite common for discussions on weight, like this one, to throw up quite a few not very pleasant expressions such 'bag of bones' aimed at those like me who are not overweight. While such expressions don't bother me in themselves, it does seems like a clear case of double standards, and that does bug me!

You are so right MamaCaz, I have a friend who gets very depressed that she is 'scrawny', her words. She swears she eats well but is also a bag of nervous energy...always on the go. I do think there are builds that tend to one end of the spectrum or other. Me ...I'm basically 'sturdy'.Toddler picture of me resemble the Michelin man. I have heavy legs that even at my thinnest (in teens mildly anorexic before it was invented) were still very much in evidence. It was one of my many size related miseries at school when everyone was wearing 'kinky' boots, I could not get a pair to fit my legs.

Sorry I didn't mean to suggest cooking wasn't still taught in school, more about the how, what and why, etc., and that it isn't treated as a life skill.

For example, understanding the basic food groups and how they work together to produce a balanced meal (explain diabetes maybe?), understanding about flavours and how to flavour food (thinking about compensating for reducing salt content), being able to cook with what fruit and veg is in season, even how to read food labels properly. That kind of thing, but I'd also like to see the food pupils cook being eaten at school, so the lessons don't seem like an add on where the food is taken home. Am I expecting too much maybe?

I too know of people who get the other end of the stick and being told they are too thin. I do sympathise (a tiny bit ), but there's no crisis looming for those at that end of the stick.

Actually Wilma the people who live longest are those who are slightly overweight, apparently. In a study they were found to be 6% less likely to die than people of 'normal' weight.

But as this commentary from NHS Choices points out, what was not taken into account was quality of life. Overweight people are more likely to develop chronic conditions which can impair life quality.
www.nhs.uk/news/2013/01January/Pages/Overweight-people-live-longer-study-claims.aspx

I sympathise Mamacaz as a 20 BMI-er I get tired of 'It's alright for you, you're naturally skinny' type comments too.

janeainsworth I remember reading that somewhere and it gave me hope because I'd be happy being around the top end of the healthy range for my age and height (although ideal weight/BMI charts are not considered a good reference by many). I doubt if I could happily maintain my weight at the lower ends of any scale.

Wilma - I do so agree about learning about cooking and nutrition. I have often quoted my youngest DD whose "cookery" lessons consisted of assembling pizzas (on bought bases) week after week, and then having to design different marketing strategies for them - made me sick.

Providing food for your family that makes them healthy and shows your love for them - where did that vanish to?

Lucky Another example of those who should know better following popular trends rather than having the courage to resist them and stick to proper values?

Calling someone 'skinny' or 'a bag of bones' etc, is no better than using the words 'porker' or 'lardarse' - I believe.

I have 2 kinds of friends/family who are VERY slim- some are so naturally and never mention it- others work very hard at it- and make a lot of noise about it- and sadly do not look their best for it, I have to admit. Several of the people I know who have spent their life being obsessive about any fat eaten and avoiding any bit of fat like the plague (and making quite a fuss about it, and constant remarks to that effect) are now suffering from very severe forms of ostheoporosis.

My parents were always vera slim, and dad became quite obsessive in his latter years- so did another friend- and both became thinner and thinner, and when they go poorly, had absolutely no reserve to fall back on. My parents we indeed skeletal when they died.

It does seem increasingle that people more and more fall into extremes- with 'normal' weight disappearing off the reality scales.

Oh well that's really cheered me up Gj

Sorry about that jane- but the key is not to become obsessive- and make sure that if you are slim you do eat healtily and some of the 'better' fats, like olive oil and yogurt, etc. 'Elderly' anorexia is actually qui common, sadly. We've discussed this before on GN- and some become totally obssesed and want to have more and more exercise too. Does not mean at all it happens to all- but it is a for of control over one's life, for some.
The mother of a friend, as she began to lose weight, just could not stop, and would go out all day and everyday, walking, walking, walking- aimlessly. Quite sure i won't happen to YOU.

I know what these studies are trying to show... but '6% less likely to die than oeople of normal weight' does that mean they'll live for ever?

Won't put any links here but a Google of 'anorexia in the elderly' will give a lot of surprising information. Dealing the anorexia is extremely difficult for family and friends- as the 'suffereres' totally resist and counter any suggestion that this is happening and go in total denial- just as obese people do resist too- Both extremes are very difficult to handle- and any insulting words will truly not help, as it raises resentment and barriers.

My friends who are naturally slim just do not have any issues with this- and are extremely fit and healthy- and do not have 'issues' with foods or groups of foods - just eat a balanced diet. Brilliant.

It's amazing how Gransnetters always seem to know of extreme cases of awful things happening to people.

And how many friends they have to back up their theories!

Yep!

Anya
I think it means that they observed the cohorts over a period of time, at the end of which, for every 100 people of BMI 20 -25 who had died, only 94 died out of the slightly overweight BMI 25 - 30 cohort.
But 129 of the obese people (over 30 BMI) had died.

However I'm not a mathematician and could be completely wrong

I love maths and statistics Jane so am happy with your explanation and did once read a study about this. If I remember correctly the optimal 'less likely to die' group were those with BMI's between 25-26, as you said just slightly overweight. It would be interesting to see what other factors could be attributed to this group.

In a study about alcohol and health, it was found that those who didn't drink any alcohol had that a 'greater risk of death' factor (!!) until it was discovered that recovering alcoholics had also been included in this group.

Sloppy scientific method yes, but sufficent to skew the statistics.

I've never even heard of anorexic pensioners. How sad. My Mum is 75 and still trying to lose that last half stone that's bugged her for as long as I can remember.

gj how do your slim friends know what a balanced meal is? If nobody explains how to do that, then the natural thing would be to eat what you like best and can afford. Even if you learn what is healthy from a magazine, that's a step in the right direction.

There's a reason one of the best selling cookbooks is the Students' Cookbook (not quite sure of the exact title). It teaches a person to cook simple, cheap and generally nutritious dishes using basic cookery skills. I'd like to see that happening in schools. A pineapple upside down cake tastes lovely, but it isn't very useful!

That nice chef judging 'the great British Menu' this week. Tom Kerridge I think. Anyway he was always my favourite so I was appalled when I saw him. I thought he was very near death he looked so bad. Anyway I googled him and found that he'd lost 9 stone!! It may be good for his health but he looks the least healthy I've ever seen anyone!

WilmaKf it is actually very common- do a bit of Goggling, it is very interesting and sad. And yes, I've seen it happen many a time- friends and family. And yes, I am VERY lucky to have friends and family all over the world. And DH who worked with elderly people over a period of 40 years too.

How do those who have never had a problem with weight, either way - know? It is just common sense and fairly simple to eat healthily. Thinking about those who recently came to visit- they are definitely not well off- but cook everything from scratch, little meat and loads of fruit and veg from the market- he goes after work when they sell everything left cheap, and then cycles home (5km) - last bit is probably one of the keys!

All I am saying, is that when one gets 'elderly' wherever the cut off point is (for my parents it was 80+ although dad cycled and xcountry skied well into his 90s) - being over thin and obsessive with food can be just as dangerous as being overweight- and being a little plump can actually help, as jane's info clearly says.

... having said that, I'll probably never make it into my 90s as both ma parents did- 94 and 96.

Hilda; I was the same. Quite small and not overweight but always had large legs that, at a time when everyone was wearing mini skirts really upset me and I, too, was borderline anorexic in a desperate attempt to have nice legs. All that happened was I got more and more out of proportion. Had we known more about diet [ie eating healthily] and exercise I bet we could have got our legs looking semi decent. Even now I very rarely wear skirts or dresses .

When I'm in a cafe now, I find myself checking out the other eaters and thinking, "she's a porker, he's a porker"!

Yes. I think thin older people look a bit unhealthy. You need a fat layer for protection.

Protection from what or who? ('cuse grammar)