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Body Image Lessons From a Fired-for-Being-Too-Fat Model

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Being underweight can be just as dangerous to your health as being overweight. We need a certain percentage of body fat just to function and survive. All of our internal organs are surrounded by fat. Many vitamins are fat soluable and even our brains need fat to function in a healthy manner. What people need to concern themselves with is percentage of body fat to percentage of lean muscle mass. The more muscle mass you have, the more fat you burn even when resting. Wow! If people go under a certain percentage of body fat--there is a problem. If you go over a certain percentage of body fat--problem. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out!
Let's get smart, America. Just because you are thin does not mean you are healthy. The best advice I can offer you all is to put down the magazines, get off your butt, get to a doctor, then to a gym, and find a personal trainer who can help you get into the shape you should be in. Don't be lazy and wait to be spoonfed. Research it for yourself. Knowledge is power and power is freedom. Yeah, freedom, baby! So, what are you waiting for?

Jeanne Smith of FL 10:30PM November 17, 2009

I think it is disgusting that Ralph Lauren
would fire someone when they are really underweight.
I think the general public should boycott Ralph Lauren
products. What they did should not have happened.
No employer should be able to treat their employees
in such a matter.

J. A. Stueve of TX 8:59PM October 17, 2009

thank you for your article! I also like this one below.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/comfort-cravings/200910/the-benefit-ralph-laurens-blunder

Angie of OH 4:25PM October 17, 2009

For the story, check out CUNY Interactive I Blog.

Khristina Narizhnaya of NY 7:12PM October 16, 2009

Sorry, I forgot to include the address:
blogs. journalism. cuny. edu/interactive2010 /2009/10 /16/4774/

Khristina Narizhnaya of NY 7:09PM October 16, 2009

In some cultures the curvy female shape is celebrated, and advertisers are taking notice. In Washington Heights, a neighbhorhood in northern Manhattan, most of the stores feature curvier mannequins, and local women love it. I blogged about it here:

Khristina Narizhnaya of NY 7:05PM October 16, 2009

I make historic clothing- copies of garments from the dark ages, middle ages, and renaissance. Historically, the "ideal" body type has always been the one the rich had. In hard times where food was scarce, fat was ideal. In times (such as now) when a large quantity of low-protein, low-fiber food- perfect for producing fat-- is available, the rich who can afford high-fiber, high-protein food are thin, and that's the ideal. It's just that simple.
The other problem is scales Vs. appearance. We now measure 'fat' with a scale. So if, as I do, you have a genetic disorder which causes extreme thickening of the bone walls, you register on the scale as 'fat'. If, as my friend does, you have a genetic disorder that causes extremely thin-walled bones, you register on the scale as 'thin'. Yet we look the same.

Honour Horne-Jaruk of NH 6:52PM October 16, 2009

"Nobody likes to see curvy women"... ??? I will bet you if you asked real men what they thought, they would MUCH RATHER see a healthy curvaceous woman than a stick figure. Size 4 is not "curvy". He needs an attitude adjustment. There are more important things in the world than being a size 0 or demanding that women be a size 0.

I'm a size 12 (not really fat, but Karl would think I'm obese) of OH 3:25PM October 16, 2009