Focus on Health – Not Weight

We live in a world that thinks having a lower body weight means being healthy. This is not always the case.

Being healthy isn’t about reaching a “certain number” on the scale. Different people can weigh different amounts and they can all be healthy. Healthy people come in a variety of body types, shapes, and sizes.

Some people who have a lower body weight are not healthy. They may smoke, not exercise or eat healthy foods and may have health conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.

Some people with a higher body weight are healthy because they eat well, exercise and have healthy blood pressure, blood sugar and blood cholesterol. These are better indicators of health than weight.

What can you do?

• Focus on your health and not on losing weight or weight loss diets.
• Do what you can to be healthy.
• Make small gradual changes in your lifestyle that can make a big difference to your health.
• Make choices that support healthy eating and being more physically active.
• Create a list of all the things you really enjoy doing that make you feel good and do a few things on the list each week.

Services related to this information:

• Contact your Public Health Nurse:
  • Eastern Urban/Rural Zones
  • Central Zone
  • Western Zone
  • Labrador-Grenfell Zone
• 811 HealthLine/Dial-a-Dietitian (Newfoundland & Labrador) – Call 811 or 1-888-709-2929 / TTY 1-888-709-3555