As summertime approaches some of you are getting concerned about how you'll look when you shed the bulky sweaters and sweat pants for bathing suits, shorts and T-shirts -- all of which are definitely more revealing! You're wondering whether your belly will hang over the sides or if your behind is bigger than last year. Maybe, you've gotten so skinny from barely eating that you wonder whether people will think you look sickly instead of slim.

All of these thoughts are provoked by the ideas we think people have of us about our shapes and sizes.

But according to Government Nutritionist Betsy Baillie good health is more than just a number on the scale and "you do not have to look like a supermodel to be healthy and fit.'' She added: "The perspective of people -- and this also includes children -- in general is that a thin person is a healthy person but the truth is if you eat well and exercise regularly you can be a healthy person.

"You inherit your body type from your parents; your body type greatly influences your weight. No diet or exercise can change the bone structure you were born with -- all you can ever become is a slimmer or fatter version of yourself.

"Trying to become something you were never intended to be, can be frustrating and damaging to your health. Unfortunately, the glamourisation of thinness has made it culturally acceptable to be thin, but thin does not necessarily mean healthy,'' Mrs. Baillie said.

She added that being overweight can lead to various health-related problems in later life, such as elevated blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. However, an overweight person can reduce the risk of developing these conditions by leading a healthier lifestyle that encourages a moderate, varied and balanced diet, low in fat, based on normal eating patterns and appropriate physical activity.

"One of the more destructive aspects of overweight is the prejudice and stigmatisation that is attached to weight. It is very destructive for a young person to believe that he or she is ugly, lazy, stupid or bad because he or she does not have a "perfect body''.

"Being taught that only thin people are worthy of love, attention and success leads to poor self-esteem and feelings of failure in our young people.'' Mrs. Baillie also said a young person, or any person, should not be led to believe that losing weight or being thinner will make him or her a better person.

"Some people will never be thin and fear of fat makes everyone dissatisfied with their bodies -- this can lead to dangerous dieting and eating disorders.'' Mrs. Baillie said what she and other nutritionists are trying to promote is a healthy lifestyle no matter what size you are, and to tell people that good health is more than just a number on the scale.

"Ninety-five percent of diets do not work and here we are prescribing diets to people that have a 95 percent failure rate, then we turn around and blame the individual when it doesn't work.

"Interventions based on shame, blame and starvation have failed to stem, and may be contributing to the increased prevalence of obesity.

"We all need to take a different perspective of the `weight issue' -- health professional included -- and go for fitness and health,'' Mrs. Baillie said.

She added that the goal for all should be a healthful lifestyle that can be maintained indefinitely, rather a short term `diet' that will most likely be abandoned and produce more overweight and psychological discomfort.

"We know that many people put off going to their doctors for health problems because of their weight, because they think weight may get blamed.

Being overweight does contribute to health problems but weight alone is not the singular cause of health problems and each individual faces a different set of health risks,'' Mrs. Baillie said.

She added that studies show that overweight men and women who exercise regularly and are physically fit have lower death rates than thin men and women who are inactive.

Here are some important facts to consider: Muscle mass declines about 10 percent between the age 30 to 50 (so like it or not we are bound to get `fatter' as we age.

Thigh fat has been shown to be positively associated with blood levels of the good kind (HDL) cholesterol and negatively associated with blood levels of triglycerides. This suggest that high fat may actually provide a protective effect against heart disease.

Less muscle means your body needs less calories -- so you need to decrease your calorie intake and increase your activity level to maintain your weight over the years.

Being more physically active and eating a healthier diet can lead to modest changes in shape, it is possible to improve your health and fitness without significantly changing your shape. Healthy and fit bodies come in all shapes and sizes.

The typical Bermudian lifestyle of diets high in fats, high in refined sugars, low in fibre and lack of physical activity -- increases the risk of obesity and of developing the "insulin resistance'' syndrome.

The "insulin resistance'' syndrome -- includes diabetes/glucose intolerance, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels and heart disease.

Diets that improve fitness and health are low in fat (less than 30 percent), and low in refined sugar and relatively high in complex carbohydrates -- whole grain breads and cereals.

PICTURE OF HEALTH -- Sixteen-year-old Indian swimmer Rupali Replae from Bombay is pictured recently, before starting a marathon crossing of the Cook Strait between New Zealand's South and North Islands. As a 12-year-old, Replae was the second youngest to swim the English Channel. She obviously maintains her athletic and healthy shape by exercising.

THIN SUPERMODEL -- Government Nutritionist Betsy Baillie says being healthy does not mean you have to look like a supermodel. Czech supermodel Eva Herzigova has the unhealthy, but popular skin and bones look, that unfortunately many young girls aspire to today.