Superslim me- program on bbc 3

rubadub

There was a program on bbc3 last night about some 28 year old woman trying to go from a UK size 12 to a US size 0 (UK size 4).
The entire thing was shockingly bad. They had her been interviewed on bbc2 the night before and she didnt have a clue.

She went on 500kcal per day (that is more than lipotrim at least), and was exercising heavily each day. It was a real rip off of supersize me, moaning that she had no energy and "shocked" that she was grumpy. Doctors telling her she must stop. She must have done absolutely no research at all.
Had crazy quotes like Beyonce lost 20lb in 10 days by drinking maple syrup. That is 2lb a day!, 7000kcal, so she would have had to starve while jogging 14 hours a day to burn that!

The girl herself only lost 17lb over 8 weeks, going down from 10.5stone. That is just over 2lb per week which is usually considered the limit for healthy weight loss, but this was not mentioned at all.

She visited some "analyst" guy who stuck her on one of those electrical BF monitors, and then told her she was obese at 9.5 stone :rolleyes: no doubt they had to visit many of them before they could get some idiot that would make a good story.

The woman kept going on to about "the papers keep going on about how you have to be skinny to be successful", kept using lines like this over and over. Then she was in her room with all these paper cut out and they were all talking about banning skinny models! total opposite.

Whole thing was trying to be sensational and failing miserable, even the stupid comparison, going from size 12 to a size 0 (whisper US). May as well have said I am trying to go from 150 pounds down to 50........ kilos

All it did was give some idiots more ideas for crash diets. Hope some of the potential lipotrimers were watching.


link is here but not working for me
http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?q=superslim&uri=%2Fbbcthree%2Ftvlistings%2Fprogramme.shtml%3Ffilename%3D20070208%2F20070208_2100_4288_24650_60

Soulgirl

I have to say I heartily agree - she didn't have a clue what she was talking about. It was a completly sensationalist piece and I felt like she just wanted a bit of publicity for herself. I though the Paxman interview showed what a sham this programme was. the other person (journalist from the Times, I think) had far better arguments. To be honest, I'm sick of the skinny/curvy debate, its getting really boring - media needs to move on!

rubadub

Soulgirl wrote:

the other person (journalist from the Times, I think) had far better arguments.

Yes she was pretty good, stayed nice and calm just asking questions the other one had no proper answer to, like should overweight models be banned since they are "not heatlthy" too.

In the program she kept contradiciting her own points. She kept on about getting models under 18 BMI banned, and how it was so dangerous. At the end of it she was looking well, at 19 BMI, then the doctor/nutritionalist told her she would only have to loose something like 4lb to be 18 BMI, and she was saying "is that all?" as though "thats not skinny at all"

Linoge

The girl even sounds stupid! At least with Morgan Spurlock he was the writer and director as well as the star. That girl looks like she was acting and reading from scripts! The Newsnight talk really showed her up.

The thing is some people will really cling to programs like this, feeling that it is better to be obese than a normal weight.....

D-Generate

I'm so tired of that skinny vs curvy debate too. Its been painfully obvious for years that fat girls aren't hot

SystemError

D-Generate wrote:

I'm so tired of that skinny vs curvy debate too. Its been painfully obvious for years that fat girls aren't hot

Fat guys arent any hotter than fat girls.

And we all wonder why girls are so obsessed with being like this
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/mark_smith/nicole_richie_beach.jpg

It seems like a lot of you are annoyed she ripped off supersize me and aren't focusing on the point of the programme.

Whether or not she reached a size 0 doesnt matter. She emphasised the lengths some girls take to get skinny and shed light on the frailty she felt by losing weight in such a manner. Ok, she didnt do her research but neither do most of the young girls who go on crash diets.

Overweight people usually dont go out of their way with the intention to become obese because heavy girls are not glamourised as skinny people are. Consequently, there have been no deaths in the plus size modelling industry from obesity. Therefore I dont think the Times journalist had an arguement and was just clutching at straws but the fact that the girl was inexperienced probably didn't help her on that show.

Only recently 2 international models developed eating disorders and died because they were told they were too fat to model by certain agencies, when they clearly were not. At the end of the day it is essential to address these issues because whether you like it or not its important in todays society and getting out of hand.

In saying that I think the media should move on because they are in a way popularising skinny girls. However, I certainly do not think we should move on because its "boring".

Those of you who claim it is wouldnt be saying so if this issue had affected you or a loved one.

davyjose

I read an article about this in the Sunday Times, and the gist of it, I got, was that she was trying to highlight the ridiculous and extreme lengths that women go to in order to achieve a size 0, and how dangerous that it was. I haven't seen the programme, but she delivered her point pretty well in the article.

Linoge

SystemError wrote:

Fat guys arent any hotter than fat girls.

No one says they are but men usually dont have eating disorders!

SystemError wrote:

And we all wonder why girls are so obsessed with being like this
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/mark_smith/nicole_richie_beach.jpg

Men especially wonder this. I doubt any man actually finds Nicole Richie's body attractive. Does she have a boyfriend do you know??

SystemError wrote:

It seems like a lot of you are annoyed she ripped off supersize me and aren't focusing on the point of the programme...... Ok, she didnt do her research but neither do most of the young girls who go on crash diets.

But its not ok that she didn't do her research. She was making a documentary, not Diary of.... Documentary makers are meant to use facts and expose truths, not sensationalise (like Michael Moore:rolleyes: ). She has done nothing but add to the lies that lead to eating dissorders- Quote: "The only way to be skinny is to eat nothing"

SystemError wrote:

Overweight people usually dont go out of their way with the intention to become obese because heavy girls are not glamourised as skinny people are.

Its not that they are not glamourised. Being overweight is generally regarded as not attractive.

SystemError wrote:

Consequently, there have been no deaths in the plus size modelling industry from obesity. Therefore I dont think the Times journalist had an arguement and was just clutching at straws but the fact that the girl was inexperienced probably didn't help her on that show.

Only recently 2 international models developed eating disorders and died because they were told they were too fat to model by certain agencies, when they clearly were not.

There is a world of difference between being skinny and having an eating dissorder. Any girl that would literally starve themselves to death to make money has severe mental health problems. Why is the media to blame and not the health department?

SystemError wrote:

In saying that I think the media should move on because they are in a way popularising skinny girls. However, I certainly do not think we should move on because its "boring".

Those of you who claim it is wouldnt be saying so if this issue had affected you or a loved one.

I think Soulgirl was saying that the skinny vs curvy debate is getting boring.

brianthebard

Linoge wrote:

No one says they are but men usually don't have eating disorders!

Or maybe you just don't hear about it enough? You know there's a difference between "eating disorder" and bulimia/anorexia? I think that plenty of men have issues with their bodies but its just not addressed as much in mainstream media. Mind you the same media constantly overdo the anorexia and bulimia thing- the figures are so disproportionate to the amount of articles written about nicole ritche and the like.

SystemError

Linoge wrote:

No one says they are but men usually dont have eating disorders!
Men especially wonder this. I doubt any man actually finds Nicole Richie's body attractive. Does she have a boyfriend do you know?? .

I think she does.

You’re right - men don’t usually have eating disorders.
Why?
Could it be because society makes more of an issue if a woman is fat rather than if a man is? Could it be because people make more fat comments about women than they do men? Women seem to be more accepting of bigger men. Maybe this is because they are the more compassionate of the sexes, whereas the males are shallower in that regard? Or is it because women are too hard on themselves and are more susceptible to have lower-self esteem?
I don’t know, but theres an all too familiar example in d-generate’s post that says “Its been painfully obvious for years that fat girls aren't hot” and I wonder about comments like and why they more often than not are directed solely at females? Is it because its men who mostly make the comments ?

I just think its important to analyse the cause in order to find a solution.

Linoge wrote:

But its not ok that she didn't do her research. She was making a documentary, not Diary of.... Documentary makers are meant to use facts and expose truths, not sensationalise (like Michael Moore:rolleyes: ). She has done nothing but add to the lies that lead to eating dissorders- Quote: "The only way to be skinny is to eat nothing".

Some people think that way. The makers of Lipotrim and Slimfast to name a few. The people using them to name a few more.

I didn’t say it was ok that she didn’t do her research, what I meant was in agreement: “OK – youre right – she didn’t do her research.”. Silly on her part. I was pointing out that her lack of research may have highlighted the importance of doing research…I think in this thread it did and maybe some will learn from that example.

Linoge wrote:

Its not that they are not glamourised. Being overweight is generally regarded as not attractive. .

In our society that’s true. But in places like Asia, Africa & the Arabias this is not an issue. Does it have no connection with the fact that you don’t see overweight models on billboards or fashion spreads or lads mags over here? Supermodels where much curvier till the fashion industry brought along Twiggy & Kate Moss and the waif look and made it & them hugely popular. No one really cares about plus size models. No one even knows their names. Hardly anyone even hears about them. Marylin Monroe was full figured and she was an icon in her day, and apparently a size 12-14. Tyra Banks gets to that weight and is slagged in the papers because nowadays that is considered big. There’s something wrong here don’t you think?

Linoge wrote:

There is a world of difference between being skinny and having an eating dissorder. Any girl that would literally starve themselves to death to make money has severe mental health problems. Why is the media to blame and not the health department?

Yes there is a difference, but many eating disorders are linked with women’s desire to be skinny, stemming from seeing these stick-thin celebs/models who get well paid, travel the world & be on TV – they probably think it’s a recipe for success. It is a mental problem, but maybe desperation comes into it. I know the Brazilian model that died came from a very poor backround and was the sole provider for her whole family. She probably thought that if she was too fat, she would lose her career. After all, she had already lost one job for not being skinny enough.

Maybe society as a whole is to blame…

Red05

Think of the children, wont somebody PLEASE think of the children!

Transform

I would love to know the paradox that is the following

why with all the media attention there is on celebs and stars being too thin or in amazing shape (not the same line) are people getting fatter and fatter and fatter? (readers of this site excluded of course!)

You would think that women and guys would actually want to look better but tey simply moan and complain instead.

One of my clinets is up for stylish woman of the year award - she was 3 stone heavier 3 years ago and you can bet your bottom dollar she was not within an asses roar of getting voted in her former shape.

Its just easy press if you ask me as from my experience people are becoming more unhealthy and in need of help.

Linoge

SystemError wrote:

In our society that’s true. But in places like Asia, Africa & the Arabias this is not an issue. Does it have no connection with the fact that you don’t see overweight models on billboards or fashion spreads or lads mags over here? Supermodels where much curvier till the fashion industry brought along Twiggy & Kate Moss and the waif look and made it & them hugely popular. No one really cares about plus size models. No one even knows their names. Hardly anyone even hears about them. Marylin Monroe was full figured and she was an icon in her day, and apparently a size 12-14. Tyra Banks gets to that weight and is slagged in the papers because nowadays that is considered big. There’s something wrong here don’t you think?

I feel bad for saying this.... but.

It sometimes seems that some people actually want society to change what they find attractive or sexy and they think that the media can control this. For some it is easy to use the "I like my curves" or "I like feeling like a real woman" as an excuse for not losing weight. These same people wish that men would think the same way.

That said, I'm not saying that there are not trends in tastes (though I doubt that M M was ever a size 12-14)

Marilyn Monroe Playboy centerfold
appearance December 1953
Birthplace Los Angeles, California
Birthdate June 1, 1926
Measurements 37C - 23 - 36
Height 5 ft 5½ in
Weight 118 lb
Preceded by None
Succeeded by Margie Harrison

brianthebard

Transform wrote:

I would love to know the paradox that is the following

why with all the media attention there is on celebs and stars being too thin or in amazing shape (not the same line) are people getting fatter and fatter and fatter? (readers of this site excluded of course!)

You would think that women and guys would actually want to look better but tey simply moan and complain instead.

One of my clinets is up for stylish woman of the year award - she was 3 stone heavier 3 years ago and you can bet your bottom dollar she was not within an asses roar of getting voted in her former shape.

Its just easy press if you ask me as from my experience people are becoming more unhealthy and in need of help.

I love weightlifting, as a form of exercise as well as just for fun, but of all the people I know here at college that I mention it to, most don't feel the same. I honestly think at this stage that people don't want to to look better at all. They think that if they start lifting weights they'll turn into the hulk overnight (despite it obviously not happening to me) and they think that being skinny (guys or girls) means that they are healthy and fit.

rubadub

Linoge wrote:

That said, I'm not saying that there are not trends in tastes (though I doubt that M M was ever a size 12-14)

Marilyn Monroe Playboy centerfold
appearance December 1953
Birthplace Los Angeles, California
Birthdate June 1, 1926
Measurements 37C - 23 - 36
Height 5 ft 5½ in
Weight 118 lb
Preceded by None
Succeeded by Margie Harrison

That is a very interesting point you bring up! I have infact heard that MM was a size 16. The point is sizes have dropped dramatically over the years! and with good reason. Most women would perfer to be an average weight and in this case, an average size is the equivalent in their minds. So if I am a designer it makes perfect sense for me to artifically lower my sizes.

On Paxman I think the other journalist made this point too about sizes, she gave some figure, e.g. a size 12 now was a size 16 in 1975, I dont think she mentioned the reason it has fallen.

Say levis have a size 12 that is the EXACT same as a wrangler size 14. If I am concious (or subconcious) about my size I might go for a pair of levis since I am a lower size. There would be no reason why a designer would increase their sizes, so all of them have been lowering them for years, and doing it to catch up with each other, and in turn sell more.

The same goes for men, I have a 34" waist, sometimes 35", yet the jeans I buy are 32" I can even fit into some 30" jeans! always lower without fail.

I_and_I

SystemError wrote:

Is it because its men who mostly make the comments ?

I have to disagree with you here I think that it is more something that is beleived by most women maybe it was true in the past that men liked these freakishly skinny women but I feel it is definatlely not the case anymore. But it is strange that it happens this way when the fact of life is that it is necessary for women to have a higher percentage of body fat than men. I personally feel that larger is a lot better than skinny by any means, in fact I am actually afraid of skinny women they make me feel uncomfortable (breakable). Anyway ladys grow those butts, there is nothing more attractive than a large rump. Can you imagine one of those size 0 models getting pregnant? Or is it even possible?

rubadub

SystemError wrote:

I think she does.

You’re right - men don’t usually have eating disorders.
Why?
Could it be because society makes more of an issue if a woman is fat rather than if a man is? Could it be because people make more fat comments about women than they do men?

Most men are not that bothered about appearance but any studies will show male eating disorders are on the rise. Perhaps this is due to the media too.
Women are generally more sensitive about their appearance, hence they will spend a lot on clothes, cosmetics, haircuts etc. But these products are now aimed at men more and more.

I hear far more "fat comments" about men and if it is said about women the person is usually chastised, you hear the likes of Prescott in the UK being called fat all the time, if I ever see Mary Harney mentioned in the media or in threads here the "abuser" is chastised straight away. I was called fat nicknames for years by mates, colleagues, strangers, some jovial some offensive, I hear this all the time at males yet have very rarely heard overweight female friends or colleagues subjected to the same stuff.

But perhaps it is a bit taboo to joke about a womans weight and this adds to the stigma & striving by women to be thin. I was a bit overwieght and would be joked about at lunch, sitting at a table with a woman who was far more overweight than me, she must have been thinking "jesus, what must they think of me I am way fatter than him". There is a level of fatness where men do not get mocked, it has gone beyond a joke and is serious, you slag your mate who fell over drunk and has a limp for a week, but not a mate who ended up in a wheelchair. It seems there is no line to cross for women, it is automatically "beyond a joke".

Most underweight women in the media are being berated these days, yet people like the woman in the program keep claiming they glamourise them. You dont see articles saying they look good, it is always warnings these days.

A lot of models are women who happen to be naturally thin, I know plenty of thin people who are not going hungry or going on crazy diets, it is down to their genetics. Of course some will go to extremes to get there, just like non-gentetically gifted atheletes might resort to illegal drugs to compete with the competition in their chosen career.
Some call for women under a BMI of 18 to be banned. I wonder how many male models would be under a BMI of 18 if they did not do weight training to build muscle, many have very low bodyfat levels and would probably be technically severely underweight if they did not have additional muscle.

justsomebloke

rubadub wrote:

Say levis have a size 12 that is the EXACT same as a wrangler size 14.

now if you were a woman who was a bit self conscious which jeans would you pick the ones that say you are a size 14 or the ones that say you are a size 12? commercialism is the reason why dress sizes have changed, if a woman feels that somehow she has managed to maintain her figure or even lose weight their is more of a chance she will buy the product