merchimerch

http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2008/02/how-weve-came-to-believe-that.html

I found this article really interesting about starvation research in the post WWII era and what it has to say about our metabolism and the viability of calorie-restricted diet.

Yay, there's a new fat rant! Okay, it gets a little pedantic/Jack Handy's deep thoughts at the end, but in general I think it's wonderful. Bravo Joy Nash!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyQ_IKkAM9I

I'm catching up on my body acceptance blog readings and found some gems:

Joy Nash has a new 1 minute video short that, to me, really epitomizes the pervasive notion in our society that well being is attainable with the proper set of unrealistic physical traits. I think most people fall into this line of thinking at one point or another. It's so tempting to believe that we can attain eternal and everlasting bliss by just being the right shape. Unfortunately that seems to have resulted in the fact that many people are now busy working on their weight rather than working on themselves. They're spending so much time, money, and energy on weight loss programs and not actually chasing the bliss by living life, or doing the inner work that needs to be done. I grew up with a yo-yo dieting mother, and have eschewed weight loss programs because I've seen the violence they've done to her life, her body, and most importantly her psyche and soul. Still, there is a part of me that really believes that if my belly stopped existing, I would attain eternal bliss and life would be "totally awesome with no problems whatsoever." Humans are so funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFmVj5BXCxM

Any, while I'm posting links, here's a good entry from "the rotund" on how the health care system is promulgating this mentality that fit=skinny. Yes, I realize that my weight has an impact on my joints and cardiovascular system, and that's why I exercise to keep my joints lubed and my heart healthy. I'm never going to fit on the height/weight charts or have a BMI anywhere near normal, and that's fine by me--when has anything about me ever resembled normal? Luckily my new doctor is willing to look at the tests and listen to my account of my health and activity levels, rather than look at me and assume 'fat unhealthy slob.'
http://www.therotund.com/?p=303

Oh, and then there's this winner from the shapely prose blog, on evangelical dieting and how it links to some of the conflicts in feminism, like those around make-up and high heels:
http://kateharding.net/2008/01/07/no-a-for-effort/

And lastly, a scary development on the surgical path to the socially valued body. Apparently the FDA is allowing lipodissolve, a process where patients are injected with a chemical that dissolves their fat away. It isn't legal in Europe, and the practicioners don't actually know where the fat goes once it dissolves. Does anyone else find this frightening? I wouldn't want a bunch of fat and chemicals possibly over loading my liver and kidneys; why is this allowed before the longitudinal studies are completed?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7171672.stm