You are what you measure

Weight is a wonderfully loaded measure. It is very concrete - concrete generally weighs between 110 and 150 pounds per square foot.

Weight is something most people have direct experience with. We know from a very early age what heavy and light are. It is our window into gravity and mass, our connection to the earth, our reminder that we are earthbound even if we can temporarily leap into space.

Body weight is considered a proxy for health. In the west, we've come to associate it as a measure of health, but it is really only an indicator of health: weight doesn't tell you a lot of important things. For example, generally losing weight is considered a good thing, but that would ignore causes. Anorexia, amputation, and starvation could all be causes of weight loss. None of these are associated with good health.

Weight gain is associated with ill-health, but is considered an indicator of proper growth and care for small children. There are deep concerns when a small child isn't gaining enough weight. And concerned for future eating disorders if the child is gaining too much. Weight gain is expected for pregnant women, with an expectation that it would only be healthy to lose weight should the woman be severely obese and be closely monitored to ensure proper nutrition for the woman and the baby.

Ideal weight is generally given as a range and needs additional measurements like height and age. A healthy weight range for a 6 foot tall, 50 year old male, is different than the healthy weight range for a 4 ft 6 in tall eighty year old woman.

Weight might be viewed as a success measure for a change in diet or increased exercise, but generally the results will not be seen immediately, or may not be seen at all. For example rapid weight loss is often associated with dehydration, not health. And there are benefits to a good diet and adequate exercise that go beyond weight loss, like more energy, better mental health, and potentially longer life.

So before you get on that scale think about what you are measuring and why. Think about the context for the measurement. Think about what you are trying to accomplish. Think about what your long term goals are. And remember there is more to health than weight. And weight is just a number.