PERRY BUCHANAN: Use the right words on health and fitness issues

Watch your language! In our politically correct world, knowing what language to use to instruct someone can be a challenge.

My business as an exercise physiologist and personal trainer often involves addressing the needs of those who are overweight. Two recent studies examined the preferences of patients when describing obesity with their doctor. The results indicated that the preferred terms were “weight, overweight and unhealthy weight.” Words that created a stigma were “obese, fat, excess-fat and large size.” Terms such as “unhealthy body weight and heavy” were also disliked, but to a lesser degree.

About 20 percent of those surveyed reported they would find a new doctor if stigmatizing language was used by their physician. Many overweight individuals feel stigmatized, disrespected and judged when they seek help. This perception can interfere with the ability to provide effective programs.

There has been a lot of talk recently about “fat shaming” on the Internet and social media. Fat shaming involves criticizing and harassing overweight people about their weight or eating in order to make them feel ashamed of themselves. This often turns into downright harassment and cyber-bullying.

Whatever your opinion of fat shaming is, the research is very clear that stigma and discrimination against overweight people causes major psychological harm and makes the problem worse. Aside from those horrible people who just enjoy saying hurtful things as they hide behind the Internet, apparently some people believe that making overweight people feel ashamed of themselves will motivate them to change. They believe those shamed will start eating less, exercising more and finally start to lose weight. We now know that just the opposite occurs.

The harmful effects of fat shaming go beyond just increased weight gain, which is serious enough as it is.

Weight discrimination can cause depression, eating disorders, reduced self-esteem and raise the risk of all sorts of mental problems. Other harmful effects that are supported by studies include greater stress, weight gain, and increased risks of many chronic diseases.

In a study of 2,436 people, extreme obesity was associated with 21 times the risk of suicidal behavior. From available research, it is clear that fat shaming harms people physically and psychologically. Positive motivation techniques will create more positive fitness results especially when it comes to weight loss.

We certainly need to be cautious of being judgmental, but our current politically correct language sometimes goes too far by obscuring the message. Just like it is irresponsible and cruel to shame others for being fat, it is also irresponsible and harmful to glorify lifestyle behaviors which contribute to being unhealthy.

Like glorifying smoking in the ’60s, we cannot afford to ignore evidence that being overweight is a public health crisis, and we need to be honest with ourselves. Over a thousand people die daily from smoking-related diseases. Obesity through inactivity and poor nutritional habits also contribute to too many dying too soon.

Before we start giving advice to others, or coming down too hard on ourselves, let us try to consider the facts without the negative emotions of self-judgment, embarrassment, annoyance and anger. Don’t try to change yourself or others. We can change behaviors but not people.

Losing weight will not make you a better person. It won’t even necessarily make you a more attractive person, since beauty will always be in the eye of the beholder. Do like and accept the way you are, but don’t accept unhealthy lifestyle choices. We can’t afford to let self-judgment and defensiveness stand in our way of being healthy and happy.

This is one of the hardest times of the year for people to cope with emotional issues, so we need to be especially aware of holiday body shaming. Not only the way we judge people, but judging their food choices can have negative implications.

This is a joyous time of year, and we need to not defeat our purpose by bringing shame and guilt. When suggesting to relatives or friends the need to lose weight, using derogatory words is unhelpful and comes across as being insensitive. Every person has the right to be treated with respect and fairness.

With a few simple changes to your vocabulary, you can make this holiday season a shame-free one for yourself and your loved ones.

Perry Buchanan, owner of PT Gym, is certified as an Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine, and Fitness Nutrition Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Email him at [email protected]. Follow @ptgym on Twitter.