IN YOUR DAILY DOSE today is research from Helsinki which demonstrates what you probably already guessed - having an ideal weight doesn’t help you lose weight or reach your goals.

IN MAKING CHANGES today are strategies you can use to improve your body image.

IN FACT OR FICTION today we’re changing topics from snow to a more serious topic. By 2050 the number of people in a specific category will more than double. Check out what group and how you might serve that population.

In The News

In research from the University of Helsinki, researchers found that individuals who had a personal ideal body weight had a more difficult time reaching it and feeling satisfied with their body weight. Only 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men had reached or were below their personal ideal body weight after 10 years.

According to the lead author quoted in Science Daily, "People tend to set unrealistic ideal weights, but these ideals do not help them lose weight in the long term," explains researcher and nutritionist Ulla Kärkkäinen. "Among women in particular, the ideal weight tends to be significantly below a healthy weight, and cultural and healthy weight standards often conflict."

The personal goals you set for yourself may not be healthy and could contribute to your inability to reach your goals. The study was part of an extensive Finnish study evaluating over 4,900 men and women at the age of 24 and then again at 34, a decade later.

Authors continue, "Previous research has indicated that dissatisfaction with body weight increases dieting, which in turn makes the person more likely to gain weight in the long term. To avoid this harmful chain of events, it is important to promote a positive body image and to communicate more realistic weight ideals," Kärkkäinen says.

Additionally a negative body image is also associated with low life satisfaction, eating disorders, unhealthy weight loss attempts, depression and low self-esteem.

SOURCE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160203090946.htm

Daily Health Tip

While you may want to have a personal ideal body weight, it’s not healthy. Instead, it’s important to aim for a healthy lifestyle that supports your goals for recreational activity and family activities.  Instead of seeing the areas of your body you don’t like or want to change, attempt to see yourself as a whole person who has value and personal worth to your friends and family.

Making Changes

Developing a healthy body image is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle and enjoying your everyday life. There is not one person who has a perfect body and there never will be, because we are all flawed and human. The models on television and in magazine ads are all photoshopped and airbrushed to give them a look as close to ideal as dress designers and photographers believe a perfect person should look.

Your beauty comes from within, from who you believe yourself to be and how much confidence you have in who you are. That doesn’t come from a number on a dress, on the scale or in your head.

If you have trouble with your body image and can’t get away from thinking that you should look better in order to be a better person, it’s time to get some professional help. It doesn’t mean you have a mental disorder or are emotionally crippled - but it does mean with a little support you can begin to enjoy more of your life without constantly judging yourself against others.

My Daily Affirmation

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. In what ways can I help the less privileged to improve their circumstances?

2. What areas in my life can I be more introspective about?

3. What impact does interacting with the less privileged have on my desire to be more charitable?

Fact Or Fiction?

The number of people in this category will double by 2050.

The number of people over 60 will go from 900 million to 20 billion between 2015 and 2050. This means the percentage of people over 60 will rise from 12% to 22% of the total global population. This rise is happening more quickly than it has in the past, meaning services will also have to make drastic changes to accommodate the aging population.

Have a wonderful day!

Your Healthy Life America Team