Kate Moss has been criticized for saying the title of this article is a motto that she lives by.
The critics are saying that it encourages anorexics not to eat and her comments are both "dangerous" and "unhelpful".
Although it is clear that anyone with such an eating disorder should be seeking help to restore their self image and healthy eating habits rather than finding further excuses to avoid food, it seems short sighted and sensationalist to target a single comment in such a way.
The main reason for my contrary stance here is that the very same motto has proved to be extremely helpful for those having problems brought about by eating foods lacking in nutrients, often in large quantities, and generally leading to excess weight and many other negative impacts on their health.
For those in this scenario, a phrase that could be described as a dangerous endorsement to eat as little as possible to some, becomes an invaluable tool to remind of the potential dangers of excess to others.
Stephen R.
Covey - author of '7 habits of highly effective people' - uses a similar phrase in his book 'the 8th habit' to remind himself to distinguish between genuine hunger and withdrawal of a sugar addiction: "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.
" Hmm.
Practically identical, huh? Confusing how essentially the same phrase is seen as a great catchphrase to keep you eating healthily when it comes from this source, but it's the most evil propaganda known to man when it's Kate Moss.
Although it will be argued that she is a role model to girls and should not be saying anything that could be misinterpreted in this way, I argue that the fault lies with those who can't apply good judgment to something that's open to interpretation.
So, it looks like we are stuck in the middle and the meaning and potentially positive or negative effects of the words involved depend on your specific situation and perspective.
Hmm.
That sounds suspiciously like most of life on a daily basis.
Whatever happened to thinking for yourself and personal responsibility? If we reacted this way to every statement that has a potential to be understood in a negative light, it wouldn't be long before we'd all stop saying anything at all in case it gets misinterpreted.
The key isn't to keep complaining that some people make statements that are misleading or could be misinterpreted, it's to encourage people to evaluate information better before accepting it as fact; and certainly before attacking anyone's character over it.
In a world where we are constantly bombarded by a myriad of pitches as to what we should eat, wear, think, it is increasingly important to be discerning when it come to what we actually apply in our own lives.
As a personal trainer, nutrition is a topic that I have studied, and continue to study thoroughly.
It's something that I find interesting and can dedicate a lot of time to researching - and I often find the information presented in popular media to be contradictory and confusing too! The only way through minefields like this is not to take things at face value all the time (particularly if it ends up with you handing over money for the latest 'magic bullet'), apply liberal amounts of common sense, and keep in mind that "One man's meat is another man's poison" both in food and in thought.
We all work best with different combinations of fuel and the approach that worked for your best friend (or celebrity chosen at random) may well not be the best approach for you.
The message here is simple and it isn't trying to vilify anybody for a comment that has different meanings in different contexts, and isn't trying sell you anything either - think for yourself more!