Last year as I was scarfing down a microwaved frozen dinner, an acquaintance asked me if I was anorexic. This ironic question has haunted me throughout junior high and high school as “concerned” ? or, as I suspect, catty ? friends have questioned my eating habits.

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a way of measuring body fat. With a BMI of 18.83, I weigh in as slightly “underweight,” according to an online BMI calculator.

However, I eat three to four meals a day and exercise occasionally. I try to squeeze fruits and vegetables into my diet, while still occasionally indulging on those fatty Rally’s french fries and my favorite breakfast treat, Toaster Strudels.

Why are my habits and eating choices questioned, when they are relatively healthy compared to the average American’s? This question has baffled me for years.

Similarly, celebrities are often criticized for being “too thin.” I feel that celebrities should model healthy eating habits. However, I think that many celebrities are naturally slender and should not be judged or criticized for their natural bodies.

On the other hand, one in three children is overweight, if not obese. Our standards seem to be going through a negative metamorphosis. From my experiences, the “normal-looking” weight is actually too heavy.

At my job in Togo’s/Baskin Robins, I see many families order meals too full of calories and unhealthy fat. Younger children oftentimes are given the option to eat as much as they want. This unhealthy habit is just as bad as not eating at all.

Though there is often a negative emphasis on how we look, concerns are important, as long as they are addressed in a courteous way. Health is a critical issue and being on either end of the scale is never good. Everyone needs to manage their weight in a safe way while avoiding gluttonous or anorexic behaviors.