Nutritional properties and successful aging go hand in hand, but many older women aren’t practicing what they preach. Why do you suppose this is? Weight is often a good indicator of how a person is doing health wise, but women are very sensitive about discussing their weight. Women don’t like being weighed. Young girls and grandmothers alike fuss about being weighed. I was in the health care profession for years and knew better, but still admit that I have postponed doctor appointments because I wanted to lose a few pounds first.
A timeless article (The Vancouver Sun: Vancouver, B.C. October 17, 1990) talked about weight obsession and how it flourishes across the generations. Older women are falling victims to eating disorders traditionally associated with young people. People simply equate a thin body with youthfulness, health and vitality. Weight obsession is associated with a fear of weight gain, feelings of ineffectiveness, and low self-esteem.
The author went on to discuss/educate about the problems associated with dieting. Incessant dieting is almost always the first step towards an eating disorder. By now, most of us know that dieting is almost always a waste of time and energy. We spend more money on dieting than we do on food. You’ve probably noticed by now that dieting doesn’t work.
For older women, eating disorders are especially dangerous. Although less food is required as you age, the need for certain nutrients actually increases. It becomes a real juggling act to make good food choices. Trying to eat fewer calories often means cutting back on necessary nutrients. I know that when I diet that the first thing I cut back on (besides desserts) are the dairy products. Even the “point system” charges you nearly as many points for a glass of skim milk as it does for ice cream. This just seems wrong, but that is fodder for another article. Depriving the body of necessary nutrients can significantly exacerbate the symptoms that characterize osteoporosis and other maladies associated with getting older.
Even worse, women who have obsessed about weight over the years have projected this fear to their own children and grandchildren. The unrealistic ideals of beauty make women dissatisfied with their bodies, and this dissatisfaction has affected how they think about themselves. Women will fight for equal rights in all other areas but are their own worst enemies when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. Don’t you think it is time to stop this nonsense?
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