Our recent post What Message is Barbie Sending Our Kids? generated some interesting comments. Momlogic friend and registered dietitian Diane Henderiks had a few comments of her own she wanted to share.

The overall theme of the responses was along the lines of it's all or nothing, ugly or beautiful, Shrek princess or Barbie. Being "thin is in" in the media and fashion industry, but is being thin really healthy?

Let me put it this way: EXCESS FAT ON THE BODY IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU and TOO LITTLE FAT ON THE BODY IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU EITHER!

One comment in response to the article really stood out:

So what do you propose? Make a fat Barbie doll, so little girls will try to get fat like Barbie? This really says it all. Is it one extreme or the other? The doll or toy is a representation of what the media puts out there as "normal." That was the point of the article. Where did in shape and healthy disappear to??

You are on the path to good health if you exercise regularly, eat wholesome foods and limit unhealthy behaviors. The BMI (Body Mass Index) is a good guide for a healthy weight ... not that it's the be all, end all, but it's a good guideline. Being overweight or underweight poses health risks!

Here's how the BMI works:

1. BMI measures your weight in relation to your height, and is closely associated with measures of body fat.

2. You can calculate your BMI using this formula: BMI equals a person's weight in pounds divided by their height in inches squared, multiplied by 703.

For example: Someone who is 5' 7" tall (67") and weighs 220 lbs., the calculation would look like this: 220 divided by 4489 (67" X 67") multiplied by 703 = 34.45 BMI

3. You can also estimate your BMI with this chart: Body Mass Index (BMI) Chart

A person with a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy.
A person with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight.
A person with a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese.

Because BMI does not show the difference between fat and muscle, it does not always accurately predict when weight could lead to health problems. For example, someone with a lot of muscle (such as a body builder) may have a BMI in the unhealthy range, but still be healthy and have little risk of developing diabetes or having a heart attack. BMI also may not accurately reflect body fatness in people who are very short (under 5') and in older people, who tend to lose muscle mass as they age. And it may not be the best predictor of weight-related health problems among some racial and ethnic groups. But for most people, BMI is a reliable way to tell if your weight is putting your health at risk.

Bottom Line: Even being moderately overweight can put you at risk for cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other risk factors. Make wholesome food choices, exercise and maintain a "healthy" weight -- and pass this message on to your kids.