Fashion Could Be Dictating Your Figure

In Mauritania for example obese women are highly prized

What really constitutes being overweight?  Are you really fat, or are you underweight? A lot of our perceptions regarding weight are ingrained into our heads at a very young age and are dictated by fashion, trends and possibly flawed ideas of what really is healthy or not. Sometimes we need to step back and be objective about whether we are a healthy weight.

The medieval perception of weight was extremely different to what is considered to be healthy today. The ‘buxom lass’ who would have been the most sought after woman in town in say the eighteenth century would probably be considered overweight today and the skinny girl of those times would be considered to be perfect today but would have been considered susceptible to illness 300 years ago.

If you look at nude portraits of women of say the 16th century you will see that they are often painted with rolls of fat which a modern woman would not be seen dead with. Probably the most famous artist known to paint large woman was Rubens which has led to the expression ‘Rubenesque’ to describe overweight women in a diplomatic way today.

In some parts of the world especially in 3rd world countries being overweight is considered a sign of wealth and prestige.  In Mauritania for example obese women are highly prized after by men and in Tonga rich men marry some of the largest ladies on the island.

If you come from a rural background as opposed to living in a big town you are more likely to be confident and not too fussed about being a little bit overweight. In big cities when media images of physical perfection are everywhere women become more conscious about their figures and the way they are supposed to look.

Too much fat is unhealthy but being underweight is also unhealthy so a balance needs to be struck and this requires objectivity sometimes. If you eat healthily and get exercise you should not have any problems with being overweight or underweight.  You should also remember that if you want to look your best you should be at a healthy weight. Men and women who are overweight or underweight do not look as attractive as those who are of the correct healthy weight.

If you are unsure about how much you should weigh you should speak to a doctor who can give you advice.