Comments on: When Does Thick Equal Fat?

By: blessedinla

blessedinla — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:14:53 +0000

Check this health article out from the Washington Post–

Is BMI Scale Weighted Against African Americans?

Tuesday, April 14, 2009; Page HE02

The body mass index (BMI) formula that is widely used to determine body fat may not be accurate for non-Caucasians, a study published last week in the British Journal of Nutrition found.

“This scale was created years ago and is based on Caucasian men and women,” said Molly Bray, one of the study’s researchers and an associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “It doesn’t take into account differences in body composition between genders, race/ethnicity groups and across the life span.”

Bray and her colleagues are using another method, a low-dose X-ray called DXA, to estimate bone density, lean mass and fat mass.

Based on the DXA reading, the researchers found that an African American woman, for example, may not be overweight or obese even though the BMI formula, which considers a person’s height and weight, indicates that she is.

“Right now non-Hispanic white women are not considered obese until they have a BMI of 30 or above,” said Bray. “For African American women the number to cross is around 32.” Women in some other racial and ethnic groups were considered obese even if their BMI number was below 30.

The results were similar in men.

The discrepancies, Bray said, are due to variations in bone mineral content, hydration state and the density of lean mass in different ethnic groups.

– Sindya N. Bhanoo

By: b-

b- — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:53:40 +0000

It just bothers me when ‘unhealthy’ people (in that harsh tone) are like, “I love me just the way I am, and no one can tell me any different.” “I’m beautiful just the way I am.” I always question who they’re trying to convince…themselves? -it’s that whole denial piece.
The thing is: it is SO not about your outer appearance like various ppl. mentioned above. I am on the smaller side, but I am not denying the fact that I could/should be WAY more healthy. Even smaller people have to be careful that they don’t let their ‘fast metabolisms’ lead them to the same problems that overweight people face.
We all need to stop being in denial. Get to a place of mental health (where you face/embrace the facts) then the physical health piece should follow, which can lead you to the ultimate place of being completely okay and at peace with yourself.

By: Malacyne

Malacyne — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:05:26 +0000

I think there’s a lingering sense of denial when it comes to obesity in black people. When your arteries are being squeezed shut by fat plaques, you have a problem. When your start developing resistance or overwhelming your body’s own blood-sugar balancing mechanisms, you have a problem. When your heart is struggling to squeeze blood around your body, you have a problem. All these pathologies hit black people early and hard. True body fat is measured by water displacing scales or complicated devices – stuff not available to the average person. On average women should have 18- 22% body fat beyond that, the above problems start to develop at a rapidly increasing pattern. The BMI measured via water displacement is very accurate. The tape-measure method and the caliper method has been debunked as inaccurate only giving general BMI with gross margin of errors. Muscle weighs more than fat, so only relying on a numerical weight is also erroneous. Most athletes (15% and under to an amazing 8%) would be considered obese. Stop worrying about the size, ladies. You can be a size 0 and be poised for a stroke, heart-attack and/or diabetes moreso than that thick size 14 girl.

By: MSB

MSB — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:48:52 +0000

Fat v Thick……Everyone is going to have their own definition for those terms. Those are words and do not define a person. People priority should be having an healthy lifestyle….period. It is not about your outer appearance…..it is about your internal appearance. This is what matters at the end of the day. There are many fuller body size women who work out and eat well balanced meals. It is hilarious how people say you should not cast judgment, but people cast judgment towards “fat” people all the time.
OBESITY is not an EPIDEMIC…UNHEALTHY LIVING IS!!!!!

If you are thick or fat, (whateva you want to call it),does not mean you are unhealthy and going to die in the next few years. Death does not discriminate; When your time is up, then it is up…point, blank, period. Yes, not having an well balanced “diet” does put you at risk for many health conditions….just like not protecting yourself during sexual intercourse. Or drinking while driving….even better, being in an abusive relationship..knowing it is not healthy for you. It is all the same thing. Being unhealthy MENTALLY, SPIRITUALLY & PHYSICALLY (Internal)is not GOOD for ANYONE.

So please think about what you say before you say it.

To my fabulous “big” ladies and children: Loving yourself first it most important regardless of how you look and where you are in life, when you love yourself you do good for yourself.

Like someone said: “….women and men need to treat their bodies more like friends instead of enemies, therefore their bodies will adjust accordingly…” -anonymous

I so agree :) Happy Living!!!

By: loryn

loryn — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:02:35 +0000

no, fat is not the same thing as thick…i agree with Harlem Chic that it should be a about overall health not about the definition/measure for what is considered “beautiful.”

overall though yes–thick is more so the general term of having an ample butt, breasts, thighs, etc. but not necessarily fat or obese…again, we should redirect the discussion to focus on health and what a healthy body really is.

By: Harlem Chic

Harlem Chic — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:24:42 +0000

It’s funny cause on the low Ms. Monique has been on the QT about being fat, glamourous and happy. She’s been riding the skinny minnie train for a minute now…no more skinny b*tches are evil and all that popping trash she used to talk. Star Jones, and Monique might not have been faking the funk on being big and proud sisters; but they are most definitely humming a different tune. After a while you can rally all the big sisters up you want; but when the smoke clears health is the truth and only truth that matters.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:48:38 +0000

The BMI chart is misleading and subject to change so I dont think it is something to be taken seriously.

As for thick I always considered it to mean top, bottom or both, heavy.

As long as the stomach didnt extend pass those two you were considered thick, hell now all women use the term so it has no value now.

By: Lish

Lish — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:11:07 +0000

I hope this time everyone will be respectful when discussing this matter because we need positive and honest opinions not bashing.

By: Lish

Lish — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:10:16 +0000

you ladies all made valid points. I am a Public health major and I can not completely agree with the BMI chart. I studied it but to me the values are still based on European sizes as is everything else.

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:42:24 +0000

This will always be a very debatable topic. I am a thick woman. For a long time I have struggle with this issue. I am thick or just over weight? At the age of 34, I would like to consider myself thick but also acknowledge that I am slightly over weight, and because of it – I have health issues. I am currently working to bring my weight down without losing my curves.

So for me, I love being thick. But I want to bring it to a level where its healthy.