...celebs, like everyone else, must learn that keeping healthy means living a wellness lifestyleAT FIRST, I didn't believe it. I thought it was trick photography. Janet Jackson obese?
By the looks of recent photographs, she appears to be tipping the scales heavily (she's gained at least 40 pounds) and moving dangerously toward a body mass index of 30+. The Centers for Disease Control define a person as medically obese if they have a BMI of 30 or higher, increasing the risk of heart disease, cancer and stroke, among other maladies.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a big Janet Jackson fan, which is why it's so upsetting to see her current condition. With the utmost compassion, I hope that she overcomes whatever is leading her to overeat and gets back on track with her health, fitness and career.
My theory is that Janet may suffer from depression. Only severe depression could drive a person who seemed so passionately committed to looking fit to go on an eating orgy that culminates into a major weight gain.
Is Janet depressed about her 40th birthday, coming up on May 16? Does she fear that, at 40, she has reached her creative peak and lost her youthful beauty? Or are the pressures of the Jackson family becoming too burdensome to bear?
Only Janet knows her personal demons; hopefully, she will have the fortitude to overcome them. Hopefully, she'll find her way to a balanced and holistic lifetime plan for health, fitness and beauty.
Life lessons from a star
Now, what can the rest of us learn from Janet Jackson's weight gain? Perhaps, that celebrities are mere mortals, facing the same challenges that we all must face.
Fitness and good health are the consequences of living a wellness lifestyle, not a celebrity lifestyle. Fame, fortune, yo-yo dieting, excessive exercise and cosmetic or plastic surgery are never solutions to what ails you.
Here are a few more things Janet's situation can teach us.
Lesson 1: Surgery won't save you.
A peek at old photos indicates that Janet's face and figure have gone through some changes since she played Penny in TV's "Good Times," Charlene in "Different Strokes," and Cleo Hewitt in "Fame."
Though she's never admitted to having plastic surgery, there have been rumors, including one that she had ribs removed to make her waist appear smaller. And plenty of stars have gone public about their surgical modifications. Alas, surgery is not a substitute for a healthy, fit body, nor is it a guarantee of permanent weight loss.
Lesson 2: Stop yo-yo dieting.
Yo-yo dieting is perhaps the most deadly thing you can do if you're trying to preserve your health and fitness.
According to the CDC, "Weight cycling, or yo-yo dieting, may lower levels of HDL cholesterol [good cholesterol]. Also, research studies have suggested that weight cycling increases a person's risk for sudden cardiac death, and lower levels of HDLs may be the culprit."
Lesson 3: Say no (that's right!) to excessive exercise.
A few years back, Janet was the Queen of Abs. Fabulous abs were her signature look.
But maintaining world-class washboard abs is difficult, to say the least. More importantly, for most women, washboard abs can be achieved only through an extremely strict and often unbalanced diet regimen, plus a three- to four-hour-a-day exercise commitment. Most of us don't have that kind of time.
Besides that, women who keep their weight and body fat extremely low are at increased risk for health problems such as exercise amenorrhea, disordered eating and osteoporosis.
It's not far-fetched to assume that many celebrities engage in in this type of extreme behavior to maintain their celebrity edge.
Exercise amenorrhea is a potentially serious condition, when a woman's period stops due to extreme thinness and exercise intensity. The condition mostly is associated with female athletes; however, athletes often influence celebrities, who typically influence the rest of us.
Unfortunately, more ordinary women are developing dangerously extreme exercise habits to achieve the elusive goal of ultra-leanness. It is neither normal nor healthy for most women to maintain a body fat level lower than 14 or 15 percent.
According to the experts, the minimum healthy level of body fat is between 18 and 21 percent. For physically active women, most experts agree that a range of 20 to 35 is healthy. Physically active women increase their risk for preventable diseases once body-fat levels rise above 35 percent.
Sure, you might want to lower your body fat for aesthetic purposes. However, a low body-fat level alone is no indication of your fitness level, overall health or athletic ability.
The entertainment industry's influence and emphasis on thinness has driven many talented and beautiful artists, such as Janet (not a naturally svelte woman), onto a deadly path of self-destruction. In our culture, the look of fitness - the glitter - is often mistaken for the real gold. *
Comments (22)
I was also shocked. Just thinking about her great body was motivation for me to get started on my routine.
I hope that she gets it together.
donna
Posted by donna boyd | February 21, 2006 4:12 PM
Posted on February 21, 2006 16:12
I CAN RELATE TO JANET..DEPRESSION CAN SEND YOU ON AN OVER EATING FRENZY..I TOO WAS ONCE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT MY BODY..BUT, WHEN MY MENTAL WENT SOUTH SO DID MY EATING AND EXERCISE..DON'T GIVE UP JANET..WE STILL LOVE U!
Posted by CAT | March 15, 2006 3:06 AM
Posted on March 15, 2006 03:06
I can understand what Janet might be going through. I also suffer from the same thing, I was once a size 9 that kept climbing up in the past 10 years. I went from 231 to 282 in less than 2 years, before that I was exercising, dieting right and my husband then fiance' was my physical trainer & I could not get it together mentally. It starts with the mind, if it isn't right on track then the body can not follow. Janet...I know what you are going through, I wish I could talk to you in person and tell you what I am going through and how I am now trying to take my life and weight into God's direction instead of my own. Prayer, girlfriend works, but don't pray in moderation, Pray as much as you need to, and I will pray for you Janet! :)
Posted by Sophisticated Lady | March 19, 2006 12:17 AM
Posted on March 19, 2006 00:17
i think you guys are really going overbaord to lok to janet for your inspiration as working out. she is her own person, and when you put someone on a pedestal you serve only to break them down in their leisure time or in this case janet's desire to take a break.
she is human too and if you were a janet fan you would have already known shes been heavy and thin already. you are jsut one of those bandwagon janet fans who liek to get on her jock when shes out with a hot video or tour- you probably didn't even know who janet ws until 'that's the way love goes'
Posted by tim | March 28, 2006 4:52 PM
Posted on March 28, 2006 16:52
and remember you are here updating an online journal, janet is spending millions she'll never be able to deplete before her death.
who's less healthy now?
Posted by tim | March 28, 2006 4:54 PM
Posted on March 28, 2006 16:54
Janet was nearly born in the spotlight. She has always been held to a certain standard,to look this way, to perform that way, and always in the public eye. Everyday people gain and lose weight when they feel like it, people in show biz don't have that "luxury". I assume Janet just said, "to hell with it, I'm gonna let myself go because I CAN!!" She is human too. She may want to indulge and lay around and do nothing and you know what, she has that right, Janet has been in pretty good shape for a while now. Janet is no "spring chicken", she is getting older and can do exactly what she wants. What she eats, doesn't make the world shit. We should really let her do her thing.
Posted by L -boogi | April 14, 2006 7:31 PM
Posted on April 14, 2006 19:31
I love Janet and hope that she will get back on track soon.
Posted by Jamie Rose | April 30, 2006 12:46 AM
Posted on April 30, 2006 00:46
WOW! The recent pics of Janet look amazing. How does she lose the weight so fast? She has lost a ton of weight in only a couple of months. Go Janet!
Posted by Uxobi | May 6, 2006 2:59 PM
Posted on May 6, 2006 14:59
does anyone know how janet was ablet to get all that weight off in such a short period of time??
Posted by linda | May 15, 2006 9:50 AM
Posted on May 15, 2006 09:50
I read in a magazine that she did Hypnosis!!! Check out Star Magazines May issue.
Posted by Katrina | May 16, 2006 2:33 PM
Posted on May 16, 2006 14:33
I'm right behind my girl, i to am going to turn 40. I am so frightend i'm sure she got depressed but now that it is over hopefuly she will get back into shape and just move on. Its very hard to keep a low weight, every year it gets harder, i know what she is going thru. I will always luv you JJ
Posted by justlikejanet | May 18, 2006 2:05 AM
Posted on May 18, 2006 02:05
Janet's ability to get in and out of shape says a lot for her determination as well as her ability to not be OBSESSIVE about her weight when other things are taking precdence over a 'WORKOUT" One thing for sure, once you have achieved a body as buff as her's it is not a big thing to get back into shape. We should celebrate her ability to fall in and out of shape - it shows that for the most part, she is doing something right. As well as take to heart that health and fitness should be FOR A LIFETIME not just for a time e.g., catching Mr. Right or a Wedding. What is more - the girl has skills - and we all could do well to concentrate on honing our own unique talents so when the 40s, 50s and 60s come we have something else to look back on other than "I was once so very shapely".
ww
Posted by Wanda | May 25, 2006 4:34 PM
Posted on May 25, 2006 16:34
Why is everyone saying she was depressed??? Are ya'll living under a rock or I am the only who saw the artticles about her gaining weight for a movie role???? When the role fell through she did what she needed to do and lost the weight in 4 months!!!! I commend her!! Do u know how long it takes most people to loose 60lbs??
Posted by me | July 25, 2006 9:03 PM
Posted on July 25, 2006 21:03
I have loved janet since i was 7 yrs old. I look up to her as an idol and an icon and she does not have to be skinny to look b-e-a-utiful. she looks good no matter how big or skinny and I hope she sees this post because she doesnt have to listen to what other people say or think, what matters is she is still doing her thang in the movie and music career and is about to get married soon. I love you janet----
Your #1 fan and lover
Demetrius Givens
Ironton,OH,45638
Posted by demetrius givens | February 5, 2007 9:21 AM
Posted on February 5, 2007 09:21
Look, Janet Jackson is meant to be big. Yes believe it or not, I have a cousin who is really good friends with Jermaine Jackson, and he told me that she (Janet) was meant to be big. Have you ever notice that whenever Janet is not on tour, or recording, or filming, and she's living just a normal life, she tends to bloat and gain weight quickly. Look at all the women in the Jackson family. None are skinny. "Momma" Jackson is even a healthy plumped looking woman. But also, those who like to critize, whenever its time for Janet to go on tour, she has no acces fat, perfect shape, 6 pack, and perfectly in shape and conditioned to do her dance moves. So before anyone critize her, think about all of that. Most people are meant to stay bony looking when all they do is sit at home and live a normal life!
Posted by Donny | July 1, 2008 6:47 PM
Posted on July 1, 2008 18:47
hi janet my name is janan im 27 i study ms microbiology i love u .and your brother sorry about my english isent well cause i,m iranian woman .you are allwes good bye
Posted by janan.zarnaghsh | December 10, 2008 2:17 PM
Posted on December 10, 2008 14:17
janet jackson is nice
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