I recently stumbled upon an article on Bustle.com How America's "Ideal" Butt Has Changed Over The Last Century. I’ll concentrate on seven of the eleven styles. Certainly, we’d have to almost be in a cave to not guess that the ample curves of Minaj and Kardashian would be the present popular style. I can remember the tiny, Twiggy phase in the 1960s. [Note: Men don’t seem to get into these ever-changing ideal body type fads. Don’t ask me why; I don’t have a clue.] If you look at the issue from the perspective of the Bustle article; there are four descriptions that sum it up for me: 1) Unattainable for most women; 2) Madness; 3) Stressing about it is pointless; and 4) Futility of it all. Let’s just say for the sake of argument, however, that you’re unaffected by the latest ‘booty’ fad. What I’m wondering is: Are you affected by your weight? Do you care if you’re obese or over weight? Going by how many different diet companies; weight loss products and styles of popular diets, there must be some of you out there that care about your weight.

I was at the fingernail shop last week and there was a large party of relatives and friends getting their fingers and toes done for a wedding. Every single one of them, without exception was obese. One of them picked a magazine off the rack and announced that the celebrity was heavier than she used to be and how much better she looked. She then told the others that she just eats what she likes and doesn’t worry about it – the others agreed. I’m sure that many people are taking this stance. It’s certainly socially easier, now days to make that decision; but before making it or if you’ve already embraced it; be sure to know what’s involved.

It may not be troubling to some of that almost 40 percent of adults are obese.
[Technically speaking, a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher is considered obese; overweight is a BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 and healthy is between 18.5 and 24.9.] But before we go too far; let’s face it. There are another 30 percent of adults who are overweight; so in total 70 percent of Americans are carrying around too much weight.

Many people realize that being obese increases risk of disease. Being overweight is not harmless. About 46% of adults now have pre-diabetes or diabetes. Of those with diabetes, 26% are overweight and 61% are obese. So 77% of those with diabetes are overweight or obese. I think that should be a pretty powerful motivator. Certainly, the surprise is that even for those in the upper half of the normal weight range, the risk for diabetes doubles.

The Nutrition Action Newsletter lists other links with diseases and overweight and obesity: risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, gallstones, a dozen cancers – including colon, breast (after menopause), esophagus, gallbladder, pancreas, uterus, ovaries, kidney, and liver.

It’s a little fun to look back at what women have done for the last 100 years to try to have a fashionable back side; but even if you’re not trying to follow a fad, you may want to consider just striving for healthy. If you’ve got some unhealthy extra pounds (man or woman), you may want to start working toward shedding them; not for fashion, but for health.