“As early as 1986, a study of 496 randomly selected Ontario adolescents in their last year of high school showed that two-thirds of the girls were preoccupied with weight and dieting, compared with 15% of boys" (Robinson, 2002 pg 125, para2).
This study just reinforces the concept that our society has become too focused on weight and further becoming too big. It is sad when a young man or lady will take drastic measures to ensure that they maintain what society has told them is a proper look. My cousin Caitlin a very good prep basketball player had also been a very well proportioned girl, having to play in the post required her to keep her weight up she was constantly eating. During her career I would call her the baker-baker the basket maker on account that our grandma had given her the nickname caker-baker. Throughout her high school career you could tell she was not happy that she had to be so big. So the day her career ended she began a crash course diet that ultimately took a turn for the worst. Caitlin is 5’10 and at weighed 168 pounds her senior year (she would kill me and her mom who told me if she know I admitted her weight). Caitlin began to work out 3-4 hours every day after school and initially saw great results losing 15 pounds. Though unfortunately it didn’t stop her weight loss began to plateau Caitlin took a drastic measure and began to not eat. She was very good at hiding that she wasn’t eating. Either finding a way to get rid of her meal or pushing on someone else. I remember it had been about three months between visits to see her and in that time she went from around 150 pounds to about 128 it was scary she wasn’t my pretty cousin she was pale and grossly looking. It didn’t stop there Caitlin got all the way down to 118 pounds before we as a family decided that we had to stop this. So last fall she check into a food counseling center and in the past year has done really well her weight is back to 130 pounds which is still way to small. Though she is eating and gradually gaining healthy muscle back. I can’t believe our media and society have reinforced such a belief that Caitlin would push herself to such extreme lengths to lose weight. I am just really happy she has stopped. When I asked her it if alright to write about her, she was said yes you never know maybe it will help someone avoid the mistakes I made. So I want to thank her and say that I am lucky to have such a great cousin and couldn’t be happier she is on a positive track.
Ian,
ReplyDeleteThat is such a sad story about your cousin but also an inspiring one! It seems like in sports, many girls are more conscious about their body image than elsewhere. Your body is your vehicle for success- yes, you have to use your brain to think through the game, but its your body that people see in that uniform. And if they are on the court, many people are facing them and watching their performance. It is great to hear that your cousin is doing better and it sounds like she has the right frame of mind to get healthy again! She understands the mistakes made and hopefully that will help her to maintain a healthy weight throughout the rest of her lift. I have an aunt who is about 5'9" and has never weighed more than 115 pounds- she is very frail and when we go to dinner- it is difficult to see her because she does not eat much at all. She pushes her food around to make it look like she has eaten. It is different for me because I have never seen her any different but, knowing her sisters (my mom!), she should not be that small!!
Ian, I am glad that your cousin was willing to let you share the story about her struggles with weight and body image. Like Chellsie, I agree that it is inspiring that she was able to get help. It makes me sad (and angry) that the media and others make such thoughtless comments about women (especially) and their body issues. Your cousin would be able to help a lot of people who face these issues. Thanks again for sharing her story!
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