Why are U.S. definitions of a healthy weight a problem for Hispanic women?
We’ve always had excess weight. The thing is, how can we have healthy habits and manage our size to have a size that is good for us? I try to stay away from a specific number, because no one number really works. BMI is a concept that people talk about, but it’s only one measure. In 1998, the NIH brought definitions in line with the WHO guidelines. By doing that, 30 million people who were considered healthy were now considered overweight. The whole thing about BMI is that it assumes everyone’s weight is evenly distributed. We know that apple-shaped women and apple-shaped men have more problems. That could be an indicator that your endocrine system is not working well. Q: Do Hispanic women have something to teach non-Hispanic women about body image? A: A lot. Part of it is being more positive about ourselves. Q: Your book mentions that more Hispanic women have diabetes and are overweight, but they are less likely to suffer heart disease and strokes and they live longer than non-Hispanic