When Weight Gain is a Positive Thing

I do not envy celebrities and those who are in the spotlight when it comes to the constant commentary on their body image. They gain five pounds and they are shunned for their bad habits, they lose five pounds and every one wants to know their secret, but if they lose six, they are "anorexic." I mean, the point that body composition became anything but a private and personal issue is just beyond me.

For example, I can think of a friend, who in her 20's, found out she had thyroid issues and later on, a serious illness. For months she gained weight, having not a single clue what was causing it, come to find out, she actually had cancer of the thyroid. I can think of more than a few people who made both negative comments on her weight gain and "positive" comments on her weight loss once her thyroid was removed. This is why I try to be very careful, as a health professional, to tread lightly on anything in terms of weight maintenance outside of factual information.

If I haven't said this enough on this blog, there truly isn't one ideal weight for anyone because we are all so genetically different. Many things go into that number on the scale including body fat, muscle tissue, bone density and percentage of water our cells are holding onto and any given time. Furthermore, each of these factors are effected by a bunch of their own unique factors. This is exactly why our weight fluctuates so much and two people who look very similar in height and weight can have two completely different numbers on a scale.

If you have been reading the blog for a while, you may have seen my post about the controversy involved with last season's winner on the Biggest Loser, Rachel Frederickson. At the end of the show, her result was a whopping 60% weight loss, one which had many viewers and her coaches quite concerned that it was a bit extreme.

Well, what do you know, this morning I happened to stumble across this...

Give the girl a break, people! Although the article isn't hugely negative overall, the headline certainly leans toward a negative vibe. US Weekly says, "Two months later, Rachel has gained 20 pounds back—and she says she couldn't be happier about it. "I think I'm at my perfect weight!" the 24-year-old star recently told Us Weekly." 

Good for her! Weight gain isn't always a negative thing, and it certainly shouldn't be looked down upon by society. Now wouldn't it be great if everyone stopped keeping tabs on her and let Rachel take care of her body how she chooses to do so, since it is hers after all.

Wishful thinking, right? I'm sure this wont be the last time we see her in the news, unfortunately.