In the movie Bridget Jones's Diary, the character played by Renee Zellweger constantly obsesses about her weight. But health experts say she should stop worrying about it.
They say her preoccupation with her weight, and her schemes to lose it, are typical of many women, according to an article in the Lexington Herald-Leader. And, like many women, the movie character isn't really overweight but is holding herself up against an almost unattainable level of perfection perpetuated by skinny-mini Hollywood stars.
Nancy Besa, Midwest spokesperson for Weight Watchers North America, says, "[Zellweger's character] looked good. She didn't look obese. She didn't look unhealthy. She looked perfectly fine." She adds that Zellweger, who after the film quickly shed the weight gained to play the role, looked too thin on a recent cover of In Style magazine.
Women who do want to lose weight should make sure they're doing it for the right reason, the article says. If you're doing it to impress somebody or you think it will make somebody like you, that's a bad idea. If you're doing it to help stay strong and healthy, that's a good reason. Health experts add, however, that Bridget could cut back a bit on the cigarettes and booze.
Tired of hearing about the latest trend in diets? Wondering how to pack on a few pounds? Some people do have that problem and here are some answers from The American Dietetic Association. And here's a tip for those who do want to lose weight: Stop focusing on fat, says this article from Redbook.
