A Better Body Size

By Catherine Steele

Summer is here! No more heavy coats, boots, scarves or mitts to struggle into and weigh us down! Just a pair of shorts and cool top, and away we go. What a delightful time of year. Time to show the world our bodies!

Wait... maybe that last sentence should be deleted. How many people feel they have the "right"-sized body to show the world? How would people with disabilities respond?

An international health survey was given to 319 youth, aged 11 to 16 years, and 280 adults, aged 19 to 35 years, who had a disability and lived in Ontario. One of the questions was: "Do you think your body is about the right size?" Thirty-two per cent of youth and 37 per cent of the adults with disabilities said yes. But about 60 per cent felt that their bodies were much too fat, too fat, too thin or much too thin. These people may not enjoy showing the world their bodies in summer!

Look at the bright side. Summer is a great time to follow the doc’s orders and try to add or subtract pounds to that body we hid under our bulky, heavy, warm woolies. The reduction in clothing may provide that extra little incentive we need.

There are many ways to strive for a better body size. You can get outside, to relax under a tree away from the stresses of the winter rush, or to go for a jog, wheel or swim; you can be a cheering spectator or a calorie-burning participant of an outdoors game; you can eat more cool ice cream or fat-free yogurt, fresh fruit and veggies (made in Canada!); you can smell the flowers or work in the garden; and you can sit under a large hat or merrily row the boat down the stream. This summer, why not make both you and the doc happy?

Whatever your body size (too thin, about right, or too fat), shed those woolies and have a cool, enjoyable and healthy summer!

If you have any suggestions or comments, please call Catherine Steele at Bloorview MacMillan Children’s Centre in Toronto, (416) 424-3855 (or 1-800-363-2440), ext. 3642, or e-mail csteele@bloorviewmacmillan.on.ca.