Sure, your doctor cares about the numbers, whether it’s your blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, waist circumference, or BMI (body mass index). And the reason they do is because medical research says if these numbers are too high, you’re at a higher risk of certain diseases. But, numbers — especially the ones on the scale — aren’t the only things that matter when it comes to your health.
Unfortunately, weight loss and weight management is a billion dollar industry that’s been built on fear. And not just fear of developing disease but of body shaming and ridicule that exists in our society. We’ve become obsessed with our weight and not in a good way. Fatphobia is real and rampant online and in real life. And on the other hand, others get shamed for being too thin or small.
While it is important to care about the quantitative health measures that doctors and researchers have identified (and you should have a physical every year to check these measures), we believe you should also be viewing your health from a wider lens. Weight is just one aspect of your physical health — it doesn’t show the whole picture.
It’s up to YOU to make your health a priority. But measuring your health by weight alone doesn’t tell you everything. How your body functions and how you feel physically, mentally, and emotionally each day tells a better story. Are you measuring your own health from a holistic approach?
Here are 3 health measurements you may want to consider that aren’t your weight: