Girls/Guys are you more apt to think a person is healthy primarily based on their looks?

[pbracing33b]

Are girls and guys more apt to believe a person is healthy strictly on their looks alone, not knowing any of the person's past or family history.

My theory is yes people do perceive others as being more healthier if they are skinny/average and etc. But I would say a person who is skinny/average could be not as healthy than a person who is a little overweight or heavier, bc they drink, smoke, have sexual encounters that are sketchy (ie a sketchy person or they sleep around alot), thus I would argue that in some regards a person who is a little overweight/heavier COULD BE healthier than a person who is skinnier/average.

So what is YOUR take on this do you think the American public has the ideal image that a person has to be skinny/average to be healthy? Please explain your answer please.

[Anonymous]

I think most people judge by someone's appearance and weight for sure but if I watch someone's eating habits/ activity level then I can tell how healthy they are. There was a girl I knew who had a very nice, skinny body but she pretty much only drank coke and was anorexic. In comparison, there were people I knew who were overweight but they ate healthier than she did and worked out. So, basically you should never judge a book by it's cover.

[pbracing33b]

I agree completely, I mean look at NFL linemen and I would say even though they are overweight, I would say they are more healthy than a person who anorexic. But many people do not perceive it to be this way and I am trying to find out why there is this stereotype of heavier people, even though they work harder, eat better than people who are half their size, but yet people still perceive these people as being unhealthy!

[Opinion Owner]

It's just called being uneducated. As simple as that.

[Ki-Ki]

In some cases people look great and work out and eat very healthy but their organs or blood just give out on them.. Skinny, husky, short, tall, young, old.. Diseases and infections don't stereotype.. Ex. Anemia, cancer, kidney failure, lymphoma.. Goes on and on.. I never assume I know ones health.

[pbracing33b]

I agree, some people are extremely healthy but are husky or even bigger, just like NFL linemen, I would say they are pretty healthy considering their profession. But I would argue that a person that smokes and drinks and is skinny/average is less healthy than a guy who is bigger. Its good to know that there are people out there like you!

[shyguy227]

Personaly no, but that being said certian types of physical indicators can be used to show general indications of physical health and fitness

[Bellibooo]

Well, I am not American but I try to never judge someone based on looks because I know how deceiving that is. For example; I am no delicate flower but I am very healthy and well trained. I have friends who are very skinny and have the "ideal" body type and only eat junk food and never work out. If someone would guess, they would probably say I am the unhealthy one.
So I do think people assume that you're healthy/not healthy based on how your body looks, but personally I try not to.

[pr3ttybr0wn]

Not just weight but muscle tone (I don't think skinny fats or bony people look healthy), hair, eyes teeth and skin.

[Anonymous]

I think being thin/in shape is a good indicator that you're healthy. That said, that doesn't mean everyone who is thin is healthy. It also doesn't mean that a person who's bigger/thicker (not fat) is unhealthy.