Healthier Habits or a Tummy Tuck?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-15-2003
Healthier Habits or a Tummy Tuck?
13
Tue, 05-12-2009 - 10:19pm
What Women (Really) Want: Healthier Habits or a Tummy Tuck?

By: Cynthia Ramnarace



Tummy tuck or healthier diet?The average woman may be teetering on the brink of obesity, but she’s more willing to have a tummy tuck than to eat healthier, according to a new Associated Press-iVillage poll released Monday, May 11, 2009.


The survey of 1,000 adult women found that the average female’s BMI (body mass index) is 29, which is officially overweight and just a few pounds shy of obese. The higher a woman’s BMI, the greater her risk of conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.


It’s not that women aren’t aware of the scale; 81 percent of respondents reported that they had weighed themselves within the last 30 days. So either people don’t know what constitutes an unhealthy weight, or they’re unable—or unwilling—to make the necessary lifestyle changes that can shrink their waistlines, says cardiologist Nieca Goldberg, M.D.


“People hear all the time that they have to go on a diet, lose weight, eat vegetables,” says Dr. Goldberg, author of Dr. Nieca Goldberg’s Complete Guide to Women’s Health. “But nobody tells people how they can implement that into their daily lives. Stomach surgery is not the panacea for losing weight; women need to know that maybe if they ate more fruits and vegetables, they could fix that problem.”


Yet only 8 percent of women actually eat the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables every day, according to the poll. The good news: Participants reported getting an average of 139 minutes of exercise per week, which is close to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans’ suggestion of 150 minutes—though it remains clear that exercise alone is not enough to control weight.


Regardless of what the scale says, about half of the women surveyed feel positive about their physical condition and 40 percent said they are happy with their figures. However, one in four would consider plastic surgery to improve their appearance—but it’s not the face they want to perfect. Of those inclined to go under the knife, a whopping 73 percent of women favored the stomach as the spot to transform with surgery. Coming in second were the breasts, while the once-popular nose job took a dive to the bottom of the list.


“For women, it's not about the face. It's about their stomachs,” Dr. Goldberg says. “But that shows there is a big disconnect—women are recognizing their weight problems, but haven't made the next step to do something about it. And that disconnect is consistent with the research we have, because blood pressure is not being adequately controlled and waist sizes are going up.”


The economy is also having a negative impact on personal health, according to the survey. Twenty-one percent of the women reported spending less this year on physical fitness activities and equipment, while 15 percent are cutting back on beauty treatments.


One thing this AP-iVillage poll makes clear: Women care about their weight and their looks, but they’re missing the steps to make the essential connection: A healthy woman is a beautiful woman.


Nadinespring.gif picture by nadine1979 
 
Click & Join the Challenge  10000.gif picture by nadine1979




Nadine - deenie1979

jesussig.jpg image by nadine1979

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-07-2008
Tue, 05-12-2009 - 10:46pm

Yack!! No Tummy tuck for me. I would rather work it off.


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 05-12-2009 - 11:24pm
Hard to believe ::gasp::
Not for me .. healthy habits only :)





Click & Get Fit & Healthy with friends!
          Click & Join the fun!
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2005
Wed, 05-13-2009 - 9:48am

I personally know 3 people that GAINED weight to qualify for a gastric bypass.

~Liz

Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Wed, 05-13-2009 - 11:34am

"I personally know 3 people that GAINED weight to qualify for a gastric bypass. They felt it was easier than trying to "diet" the rest of their lives. Now they eat the same as they did before, but less food for the time being."

That's just CRAZY!!! That is an extremely dangerous surgery and recovery. To gain weight to qualify should be a huge red flag for doctors that the person needs other "help", iykwim.

I will say right now where I am, I wouldn't consider a tummy tuck. IF however, I lose all the weight I want and am at a healthy weight and BMI, and I still had a significant tummy bulge (or whatever you want to call it) I may consider it. I have a friend who's 5'5" and weighs 128lbs. That's a healthy weight for her height. She wants to be 120 and she's been on the Atkins diet for a year. She's gone through hair loss because of the diet, but she stays on it. She keeps telling me she has to lose 8-15 MORE pounds because of her tummy. Well, she may lose that 8-15lbs and STILL have that tummy! She's had three kids, all c-sections. That tummy may never go away without surgical help. Just a fact of life. Our bodies change. When you're 35 you can't have the same body you did at 15. (and I wouldn't want it! I was a skinny stick who people though was ill! lol)

Cathy

siggy pink

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2005
Wed, 05-13-2009 - 11:38am

I would rather have healthier habits than go under the knife.

Kuan - Mom to Lydia and Isaac
-  A setback is only there as long as you allow it to be.  <

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2003
Wed, 05-13-2009 - 3:22pm

Okay I must be the only crazy shameless one here then! IF money was not an issue and I had lots of it (which I don't). I would get a tummy tuck;)


But since money is not forever flowing in my pocket and I have responsibilities I will just have to do my best with exercise. Let the record show that even if I were to get a tummy tuck I would still consider eating healthy and exercise a priority to maintaining and life change.


Ps. If I was rich I would also get my boobs back up on my chest and off my belly....


shameless in wisconsin, Cris


iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2005
Wed, 05-13-2009 - 10:37pm

~Liz

Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-15-2003
Thu, 05-14-2009 - 9:12pm
Me neither, Aileen - no surgery unless absolutely necessary - I hate them!

Nadinespring.gif picture by nadine1979

Nadine - deenie1979

jesussig.jpg image by nadine1979

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-15-2003
Thu, 05-14-2009 - 9:21pm
I know it, hugs - healthy habits for me too!!

Nadinespring.gif picture by nadine1979

Nadine - deenie1979

jesussig.jpg image by nadine1979

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-15-2003
Thu, 05-14-2009 - 10:01pm
I see this is a hot button, Liz - LOL!
I happen to agree - only exception is if there is a medical necessity for the bypass, like with my mom.

Nadine - deenie1979

jesussig.jpg image by nadine1979

Pages