There's a big disconnect between body image and true physical condition, a new Associated Press-iVillage poll suggests. A lot of women say they're dieting despite somehow avoiding healthy fruits and veggies. Many others think they're fat when they're not.
"The priorities are flipped," says Dr. Molly Poag, chief of psychiatry at New York's Lennox Hill Hospital.
About 60 percent of Americans are overweight or obese. The AP-iVillage poll of 1,000 adult women mirrors the government's count on that. More surprising, perhaps, are women's attitudes and actions.
Half don't like their weight, even 26 percent of those whose body mass index or BMI -- a measure of weight for height -- is in the normal range. But just a third don't like their physical condition, even though being overweight and sedentary are big risk factors for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other ailments.
The poll found women putting in a median of 80 minutes of exercise a week -- meaning half do even less. The average adult is supposed to get 2½ hours of exercise a week for good health.
And just 8 percent of women ate the minimum recommended servings of fruits and vegetables -- five a day. A staggering 28 percent admit they get that recommended serving once a week or less.
About a quarter of the women surveyed said they'd consider plastic surgery to feel more beautiful. Their overwhelming choice: a tummy tuck.
At the other end of the spectrum, the poll found 16 percent of normal-weight women who nonetheless are dieting to drop pounds. Eating disorders aside, normal-skinny doesn't automatically mean healthy, stresses University of Houston sociologist Samantha Kwan.
Courtesy of Associated Press
Bonnie - what a sad state of affairs. Results from a poll such as this is a direct result of how our society puts such an emphasis on appearance and beauty. Until these perceptions change, we will continue to fight an uphill battle to make this country healthier. The fruit and veggie stat was absolutely dumbfounding.
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