European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 28, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Heavy 11 Happy people Are meant to be All different shapes by Mary Macvean associated press at 300 pounds Helen weighs a Little More than she d like. But at 280, she feels of. She just thinks it s too bad everyone does no to see her the Way she sees herself. A i was raised to judge myself my own Success Quot said i Lien. Who spoke on condition her full name not be used. Quot its How do i fool and i feel Good about Helen 49, credits a positive atmosphere during her childhood. People Tell her she looks 35, and she jokes that if she loses weight Quot All Tho wrinkles will show Helen wears sexy bathing suits dances has no trouble attracting men and is becoming something of an activist by speaking out As a member of the non profit National association for Tho advancement of fat acceptance. Founded in 1969, Nakfa has about 3,000 members in of to United states and Canada. Its aim is to spread the a a As far As pm concerned diets contribute greatly to compulsive overeating and to people getting a clinical social worker word that everyone no matter their weight has a right to a life of dignity and happiness. It docs not advocate dieting and tries to debunk Quot myths such As that you can lose 10 pounds on a weekend Quot said Barbara Altman Bruno a clinical social worker in suburban plea Santillo who treats women with weight problems. Quot people Are meant to be All different shapes and sizes like vegetables Quot Bruno said. Quot i Don t think everyone is meant to be Helen said Sho encounters too Many people who done to believe that. Quot people Are taught or conditioned to get their Imago from the outside world Quot she said. Quot i Learned Over the years at least in relationships with men Boca Uso i have self Confidence and i like myself whether in a fat or thin i attract All sorts of men Quot she said. Quot i happen to to a very pretty woman but i would say i Feci a Little More protected when i m a heavy woman. I sort of attract nicer men Quot men who Are not Only interested in appearances Helen said. Helen has successfully separated her self Worth from. Her weight said Bruno who sets that goal for the people Sho treats. Quot to Are so blinded by fear and hatred of fat in this country Quot she said. America Nakfa believes considers discrimination against fat people a Quot Safe Quot prejudice that manifests itself in fashion availability of insurance mistreatment by health professionals and Nasty jokes. Quot in Tho face of their obesity our Normal standards of humanity vanish and we Are possessed by a form of racist revulsion for the bodies of these women Quot Kim Chernin writes in Quot Tho obsession Quot a philosophical look at the ways women View thin and fat. Quot women Are still More valued for How they look than what they do even though that a been starting to shift Quot As women become More prominent professionally and Are less reliant on a Man for an identity Bruno said. Most women think they re too fat because the Ideal is impossible for most of them. Quot advertising tells us that to to acceptable As women to re supposed to be size six and 22 years old Quot Bruno said. Helen and Bruno said they see some positive changes. Quot some Puoplo Are starting to get smart about the ineffectiveness of diets and liquid diets Quot Bruno said. Quot with Tho National emphasis on cutting Back on fat and cholesterol a Little of that is being absorbed by some people Page 14 a a a More stores carry fashionable clothing for Large women and doctors and employers Are changing their attitudes toward heavy people Helen said. Still most experts believe obesity is unhealthy contributing to illnesses including heart disease. And heavy people face other problems. In Glen Burnie md., in August a 367-Pound woman was required to take a driving test because authorities thought she might be too fat to drive safely. Regina Guy passed the test but was angry. Quot fat people Are human. We deserve equal treatment Quot said Guy 25, who was echoed by several Nakfa members. Quot because of my size i should not be discriminated her lawyer Christopher Brown said it was a Clear Case of discrimination. Quot the Only reason she was singled out was because of her weight Quot he said. Nakfa also tries to break a common Cycle faced with their own distress and the disdain of those around them overweight people diet lose weight go off the diet and get fat. Over and Over. Many experts warn against such Quot Yoyo Quot dieting As dangerous As Well As counter productive when regaining weight people often end up fatter than Ever. Kelly Brownell in research at the University of Pennsylvania school of Medicine found rats took More than twice As Long to lose weight the second time around. The difference May be a decrease in metabolic rate As the body tries to preserve itself against what it perceives As starvation. Quot As far As in a concerned diets contribute greatly to compulsive overeating and to people getting fatter Quot Bruno said. The Yoyo syndrome brought tragedy to Helen s life she believes. She and a Boyfriend once lost weight together. In months he lost 75 pounds and regained 60. Soon he had a fatal heart attack. In the depression that followed Helen regained her weight too. But Bruno noted that fat people have a lower suicide rate than thin people. Quot for some people food is a Way to assuage a lot of painful feelings. It works it s Legal and relatively inexpensive Quot she said. A food happens to be very useful in its place. And a fashion show for the full figured features styles for Large program tips diet programs can Cost several thousand dollars so its important to choose carefully. Here Are some issues to consider according to the Tufts University diet amp nutrition letter. A is this a diet you can live with forever or is it a diet you must a go on Quot and then return to eating Normal food if it s the latter consider whether you will be Able to adjust without regaining weight. A what is the recommended rate of weight loss for most people a loss of one to two pounds a week is recommended. A does the program determine caloric needs based on individual differences a does the plan provide education about nutrition behaviour modification and exercise a does the program provide Contact with professionals such As doctors registered dietitians and psychotherapists a what percentage of clients reach their goal weight and maintain the loss a is there a maintenance plan after the goal weight is reached a How much does the program Cost a resisting temptation continued from peanuts and Popcorn. For the men and women who would and do finish whole pies and containers of ice Cream in a matter of hours there is apparently Only one solution and that is not to buy them. Quot i have a love hate relationship with Mal Lomars Quot said Julie Hoover vice president of corporate projects for capital cities Abc. A i m very careful of buying them because if i have them i eat Hoover said that although she liked to have cookies and milk at night there were times when she could resist temptation Quot but if i have Mal Lomars around there s no result a cupboard most often Bare of the Graham the stars and stripes Friday sept a
