Most people in American are absolutely obsessed with having the "perfect" body. And what to most people think the perfect body looks like? Thin, thin, thin. Our society thinks that thin is beautiful. But thin is not always healthy. Read on to find out what a healthy body really is.

Healthy, beautiful bodies come in all shapes and sizes. And, most people cannot achieve the "perfect" body of the models we see in the magazine ads. Genetics plays a definite role. In my family, for instance, my sisters and I constantly complain that we have big hips. We got them from my dad's side of the family. And, no matter how much we diet and exercise, those hips will always be with us. It is kind of like a family legacy, handed down from generation to generation. In that light, I almost can feel sentimental about my thunder thighs. Almost.

The definition of a healthy body also depends on your age. Lets look at the life cycle. What do our grandmothers do when they see skinny little babies? They cluck their tongues and remark that the baby could use some meat on his bones. And this is true. Babies need to store fat so that they will have the energy to utilize when learning to crawl and walk. Also, their brain needs a good amount of fat in order to develop properly.

During the teenage years through most of adulthood, we are healthiest when our bodies are at their slimmest—this is when being "thin" is a good idea. However, this does not mean that if your thighs stick out a little too much or your tummy doesn't have that washboard look that you are fat! You should be thin in terms of your body fat percentage (the percentage of your body that is made up of fat). Did you know that people who are anorexic are actually fat? Yep, it's true. Anorexics usually eat almost nothing and exercise for hours each day, which puts the body into starvation mode. The body starts to break down muscle for energy, so all that is left in the body is fat. In this case, a woman might weigh 80 lbs., but she is full of fat. She is a "fat" skinny person. This extreme example shows why it is very important to continue to eat enough calories when you are dieting, if you want to lose weight effectively.

Once we reach the "senior" age, around 65, it actually becomes beneficial to have some extra fat stores in your body. The reason for this is that as we age, our immune systems become more susceptible to illness. An extra 10–15 lbs. of fat in an elderly person could mean the difference between life and death. The risk of developing heard disease and other fat-related diseases is no longer increased at this stage in life, so the little bit of extra fat cannot harm you. Perhaps it is a sign for us that Mother Nature slows down our metabolism as we age—she is telling us to "bulk up" a bit.

So, there really isn't one specific "healthy" body type. Your own "healthy" body will be unique to you, and you have to appreciate that you are one of kind! Accept the fact that your body will change throughout your life cycle. You can do your part by eating right, exercising, and enjoying the body you were given. Embrace your genes and be proud of them!

Nutitionist Bonnie Nasar, RD, graduated from New York University with a Bachelors of Science in Nutrition and Food Studies. She completed her dietetic internship at Harlem Hospital in NYC. In addition to a private practice, Bonnie also works as a consultant to a nursing home in Red Bank, New Jersey. Ms Nasar has also worked at American Health Magazine.