NBA Haller of Famer and current “NBA on TNT” studio analyst Charles Barkley and West Coast radio personality Kurt “Big Boy” Alexander (author of new book titled, An XL Life: Staying Big at Half the Size) are taking up a new platform by encouraging their peers to shed unnecessary pounds.
Barkley’s physician advised him to lose weight or risk the alternative — “get diabetes, have a stroke or drop dead,” the player recalled. Sir Charles, as he is affectionately nicknamed, weighed 250 pounds when he played for the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers. After retiring from the league in 2000, the 6-foot-6 former power forward gained 100 pounds.
“I come from Alabama, a state that has struggled with obesity for years. I mean it is the heart of the South — we love food. Now that I’m following Weight Watchers, I’m learning a whole new way to eat. Not only can I keep eating my favorites like meatballs and chicken wings, but I’ve discovered a world of new foods that are helping me to shed the pounds. I have eaten more fruit and vegetables in the past few months than I have in the past 30 years,” says Barkley who has lost 41 pounds to date — 14 on his own and 27 with the help of Weight Watchers.
Big Boy, who headlines the popular L.A.morning radio show “Big Boy’s Neighborhood,” one day stepped on a scale and he weighed a whopping 510 pounds. “As a child, although we were poor, my family was always happy, loving and encouraging, which has made me the self confident and happy adult that I am today — no matter what size I am. Food was always one of my most favorite things in the world. Growing up, our family, and many African American families, always gathered around family meals and holiday dinners — always around food. To eat was to be loved, to be safe. I still love food but I know more about nutrition, portion size and exercise and I am passing these new food habits on to my kids,” says Big Boy, who opted for the radical and drastic weight loss surgery, duodenal switch.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 72.3 percent of U.S. men and 64.1 percent of women are overweight or obese. Despite the high prevalence of obesity among men, they are often overlooked by the weight loss industry. As an organization, Weight Watchers is making a strong commitment to help men lose weight and think about weight loss differently with their Lose Like a Man, a digital campaign. With Weight Watchers Online for Men subscribers follow the Weight Watchers PointsPlus® plan in a distinctly male-oriented online environment. They can manage food intake, track weight-loss progress, find meal ideas and get tips and information tailored specifically for men.Weight Watchers teaches Barkley and other men how to live and eat real food in the real world. He attributes his success thus far to being able to continue enjoying the foods he loves and to incorporating more fruits and vegetables into his food choices, keeping him satisfied longer.
Men are taking a different approach to obesity and fat boy monikers that many like comedian Bruce Bruce and rapper Fat Joe wear like a badge of honor, taking advantage of their increasingly obese frames to develop a brand presence. They’re happy to banish nicknames like “Round Mound on Rebound,” Barkley’s nickname, while playing at Auburn before 16 years in the NBA.
Last fall, Nutrisystem held a most-wanted campaign where they searched for 10 of the best weight loss success stories win $5,000 and each earned a chance to star in their advertising campaign, five of the winners were men whose weight losses ranged from 18-123 pounds. The pre-packaged items are touted as the weight-loss plan that complements the most hectic of schedules. –yvette caslin
