I don’t talk about weight very often.
As physios, I know we’re supposed to talk about it.
We’re supposed to emphasise the importance of staying within a healthy weight range for the sake of our clients’ health.
But tbh, I’m yet to meet someone who isn’t aware that being at a ‘healthy weight’ is beneficial.
Throwing more evidence at the woman sitting in front of me about why she should prioritise her weight just makes me feel GROSS.
For starters, I don’t even know what a ‘healthy weight’ is for the woman in front of me; I don’t know her weight history, her genetics, her relationship with her body.
What I DO know though is that the BMI calculator sucks.
I know that yo-yoing between weight extremes is often worse for someone’s health that remaining consistent in their weight (even when they’re considered ‘overweight’)
I know that weight, for many women, is tied up in a complex web of self worth, societal pressures and emotions like guilt and shame.
I also know that seeing a certain number on the scales is NOT the thing that SUSTAINABLY makes women feel better.
It’s probably the things they did to get there:
– The extra movement like walking and lifting weights
– The fuelling their body with more nutrient-dense food
– The focus on better sleep
It’s not my job to remind the women I’m helping that they should care MORE about their weight (because they probably already care too much).
It’s to support them in finding way to move that feel good for their body and to do my bit in helping them build a more positive relationship with their body.
Because this is the stuff that really makes a difference.