Biological Normalcy-BMI
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Biological Normalcy-BMI
Introduction
Biological normalcy refers to the standard perceptions about how a normal body should look like. It involves the statistical distribution of biological traits such as variance and views about a normal body (Wiley and Cullin, 2020). On the other hand, body mass index (BMI) is based on a person’s weight and height. Higher numbers mean more body fats. Besides, it is a tool for deciding if a person’s weight may subject them to intermittent danger, such as diabetes and heart disease. A normal weight is considered to have a BMI of 18.5-25. Although statistical norms have little evaluative weight, they can still judge how a normal body should be. Typically, when clinicians come from a population with common traits, a lack of knowledge and experience on human variations may cloud their judgments. In the modern world, the cultural preoccupation with a normal body significantly affects biological normalcy and body self-acceptance.
Ethno-biocentrism leads to a clouded judgment about the different forms of human biology. Ethno-biocentrism involves cultural biases that stem from people’s perception of certain traits that constitute a human body. Cultural anthropologists elaborate on the effect of cultural perceptions on physical appearance. For example, gender differences characterize such perceptions. In most societies, local constructions of femininity and masculinity are determined by the grooming and dressing practices. Typically, such practices become evident through socialization processes. Therefore, cultural biases inform judgments about the perception of physical appearance and, subsequently, the view of a normal body.
Appearance signals group membership. Cultural anthropologists assert that a person’s physical appearance may lead to a sense of identity and belongingness. While group membership can either be voluntary or involuntary, the physical appearance remains desirable. It leads to a different sense of social relations and status. For example, in developed countries, body piercing is a common practice among youth. Besides, grooming and body adornment signals a strong sense of group membership. Therefore, culture creates variations in the perceptions of human appearance, adaptation, and variation in public health and medicine.
Different populations experience various selective forces. Studies show that patterned physical appearance variations can be attributed to the historical and current exposures to the ever-changing socio-ecological conditions. Consequently, the populace develops certain traits that resemble ancestral or current environmental contexts. Therefore, there is a need for the department of public health and medicine to consider variations that occur due to certain selective forces.
The body weight contributes to normative views about biological normalcy in public health and medicine. Studies indicate different categories of BMI that indicate different interpretations of body weight and normalcy. For example, a BMI of 25 is considered normal, and this category is deemed healthy. The higher the BMI numbers, the more stigmatized individuals become. However, people with higher BMI may view their own weight as normal, despite the increasing stigmatization in society. Also, medical professionals with anti-fat attitudes may be influenced to result in poor quality of care. Typically, stigmatization from society and medical professionals results in weight gain and adverse health outcomes stemming from psychosocial stress. The aspect of body weight should form the basis of proper service delivery in public health and medicine.
The relevance of Human Variations and Adaptations
Human variations and adaptations facilitate clinical trials. A clinical trial involves prospective biomedical or behavioral trials that aim to explain a phenomenon or answer questions on interventions such as vaccines. They are usually used to determine the safety of certain biomedical actions. Usually, the trials involve humans as the subject of study. Statistics show that historically, white males were used as normal subjects in research activities. This aspect shows the lack of variations within the field of public health and medicine. Consequently, poor intervention strategies and health outcomes characterized these trials. For example, women’s exclusion in research on heart disease resulted in under-diagnosis and poor health outcomes. However, recent trials have mandated a greater sense of inclusion in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, and race. Therefore, incorporating human variations and adaptations in public health and medical practices significantly facilitates clinical trials and research for desired health outcomes.
Moreover, incorporating human variations and adaptations in public health and medicine improves child growth standards. Studies show that the standard growth pattern was established based on samples from US infants who underwent formula feeding. However, reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) Multicenter Growth Reference Study indicated lower weight gain rates in infants from other countries. Consequently, formula feeding was adopted to correlate growth with the US standard. Therefore, the variations in the growth rate patterns show the significance of incorporating human variations and adaptation in public health and medicine.
Human variations explain lactose intolerance among the populace. Typically, humans experience a reduction in enzyme lactase secretion during childhood (Wiley and Cullin, 2020). However, Europeans, Asians, and some pastoralist communities tend to produce the enzyme throughout their lives—people with lactase non-persistence are considered deficient in the enzyme. Besides, low milk intake is associated with health disparities. Evidently, the lactase secretion pattern differs according to regions, race, and environment. Therefore, there is a need for incorporating human variations and adaptations in public health and medicine to help understand lactose intolerance among the populace.
BMI (18.5-25) and Body Normalcy
Bodyweight is essential to the physical and psychological wellbeing of people in today’s society. It is integral to a person’s body image. Usually, the BMI is the standard measurement tool for heights, and it is often used to derive different perceptions about human body weight from being underweight to obese. Typically, a person with a weight less than 20.0 is considered underweight, 20.0 to 24.9 normal weight, 25.0 to 27.0 some excess weight, and above 27.0 overweight (Wiley and Cullin, 2020). Essentially, the World Health Organization uses BMI as an indicator of health risks.
Societal norms significantly shape our perception of a normal body. While the BMI categorically stipulates how a normal body should look, society seems to deviate from the standard measurements and develops a discriminative perception about a person’s body weight (Voelker et al., 2015). Today, society through media has transformed how we view people based on physical appearance. However, the outcome remains undesirable due to the need to appear as others do, such as celebrities. For example, females with curves are considered attractive than those without. Also, people with a BMI of above 27.0 are subjected to biases and discrimination, while those with a BMI of 25.0 are perceived as healthy. Consequently, health risk factors have been on the rise because of dieting restrictions. Societal view of biological normalcy, arguably, contributes to critical underlying consequences.
A healthy body weight involves no dieting or restricted food intake. It is essentially a type of body that can be accepted by a person without dissatisfaction. A person needs to feel good about their body regardless of the BMI. However, the uncontrolled cultural norms have resulted in body dissatisfaction among people with a BMI above 27.0. This shows they are overweight and develop the feeling of low self-perception. Usually, allowing cultural norms to define a person’s ideal body shape and weight significantly contribute to body dissatisfaction. Therefore, culture expects people to maintain a healthy body weight that does not involve a restricted food intake.
The current cultural preoccupation with normal body weight extends beyond the standardized measure. Both men and women feel dissatisfied with their body images (Sutin and Teracciano, 2019). However, this kind of dissatisfaction is more common in women than in men. Society has set standards for a perfect woman in the sense of her body shape. Typically, thin people are accorded unlimited privileges than fat people. Research shows that people, especially women, tend to sacrifice their immediate economic and social needs to pursue weight loss. However, it may lead to health risks such as an eating disorder. This confirms the misperceptions that arise from cultural preoccupation with normal body weight and shape.
Weight prejudice remains prevalent in our society. It is a widely accepted concept in North American counties. People with a BMI above 27.0 are considered overweight and are at high risks of weight discrimination. Consequently, obese individuals are subjected to unfair treatment due to the limited outlets available for protection. The most common form of prejudice is teasing. Apparently, teasing contributes to body dissatisfaction than BMI. Besides, low self-esteem also contributes to body dissatisfaction, especially among adolescents (Mintem et al., 2015). Research shows that weight discrimination remains on the rise in the US and surpasses discrimination based on ethnicity, race, and socioeconomic status. Increasing prejudice shows the need to enlighten society on the concept of biological normalcy.
The Pitfalls Accompanying Societal Perceptions of Normal Body
Undermining the role of fats in the body
Losing fats and developing muscles is seen as a way of achieving health. Many people engage in physical activities to reduce body calories, especially men who focus on building muscles for strength while ignoring the role fats play in the body. For example, dietary fats are a source of energy. Besides, fats are a component of the membranes that separate the inside and outside of a cell and control the movement of substances. Research also shows that fats act as the carrier of fat-soluble vitamins. Other studies also show that fats facilitate hormonal regulation, reproduction and maintain the health of the brain. Therefore, the desire for a normal body leads to undermining of the essential roles of fats in the body and may lead to health complications.
Body Dysmorphia
Body dysmorphia entails a preoccupation with a person’s physical appearance, particularly dissatisfaction over a physical ailment that others cannot necessarily see. Typically, this condition may stem psychologically alongside anxiety. It can also manifest environmentally. The need for a certain physical look may lead to the development of this condition.
Conclusion
Biological normalcy and the perception of a normal body remains a significant component of today’s culture. According to the BMI, a normal body is considered at 25.0, while above 27.0 is seen as overweight. People have been subjected to discrimination and biases associated with obesity, which results in the desire to attain the culturally-required body image, regardless of the underlying pitfalls. Therefore, body self-acceptance is essential despite being drenched in a culture that glorifies a particular type of ideal weight.
References
Wiley, A. S., & Cullin, J. M. (2020). Biological normalcy. Evolution, medicine, and public health. https://academic.oup.com/emph/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/emph/eoz035/31866935/eoz035.pdf
Voelker, D. K., Reel, J. J., & Greenleaf, C. (2015). Weight status and body image perceptions in adolescents: current perspectives. Adolescent health, medicine, and therapeutics, 6, 149. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4554432/
Sutin, A. R., & Terracciano, A. (2019). Personality and the social experience of body weight. Personality and individual differences, 137, 76-79. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6768396/
Mintem, G. C., Gigante, D. P., & Horta, B. L. (2015). Change in body weight and body image in young adults: a longitudinal study. BMC public health, 15(1), 222. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-015-1579-7