Day 23 of #dwarfismawarenessmonth

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room(Pun intended)

If there is anything that I have struggled with all my life it is the weight.

I have always been on the chubby end of the scale even as child.

My weight has been flip flopping and eventually I hit a BIG plateau!

I have to blame genetics ( have you met my family ?!)

What most people don’t know is that, People with Dwarfism are susceptible to being overweight.

PLEASE bear in mind that not all Little people struggle with weight.

Some LPs are Maa Shaa Allah

BUT We all know the dangers of being obese.

On aLittle body the effects are worse as it affects the bones, joints and the spine.

It compromises our already poor breathing system and will make our sleep apnea much worse.

There have been studies that link achondroplasia (commonest form of Dwarfism) especially to abdominal obesity though causes are yet to be discovered.

Most adults with dwarfism tend to become overweight with time although in some cases it starts during childhood , through the teenage years and accelerates as the LP grows older.

Medically they rely on the Body mass index (BMI ) as a standard for measuring obesity but it is a height dependent index and will therefore put most LPs at the obese end.

This standard of measurement because of my height, which is similar to a child’s, will conclude that I should eat childlike portions!

Y’all know how I love my steak

All kidding aside, this is a virgin land for nutritionists and dieticians to explore!!

(10% commission coz I have been dropping Biz ideas your way throughout my posts)

We need viable solutions for the long term.

Parents of LPs need to watch out for this raising health problem and put preventive measures in place.

We all know prevention is better than cure!!

Being mindful of what one eats( ) for adults is the first step.

portion control ( a reminder to myself first).

The choice of food contributes more to weight gain than the lack of exercise.

Introduction of some non aggressive exercise routine such as swimming or light cardio would also go a long way.

that is for LPs who have issues with their bones.

Otherwise follow an exercise regimen of your choice and keep switching it up to avoid making it boring.

Other things to watch out for include sleep habits , stress and anxiety and depression which all contribute to becoming obese.

As an advocate of mental health I cannot stress enough the importance of the emotional wellbeing of LPs.

We face a double stigma because of the Dwarfism and then the shame that people who are obese, face.

This makes it a whole lot worse

Communities should also be involved in advocating for healthier children both physically and emotionally.

If you make fun of us, exclude us from play activities or from befriending your children these will trigger emotional turmoil that may lead to overeating (binging).

Part of this long term plan of having LP adults that are healthy and happy is somewhat tied to how society looks at and how it treats LPs.

Be more accepting, kinder and more respectful.

(Disclaimer: I am not an expert on weight management clearly )

#happierandhealthier #Weightgoals