Kelly Ripa Is Too Skinny

Unless we're asking Anne Heche, I'm pretty sure anyone would agree that Kelly Ripa is skinny. Like, super skinny.

And if you're asking me, Kelly Ripa is TOO skinny.

If we needed more proof, last week Ripa appeared on stage with crutches. Apparently, she had been experiencing hip pain for quite some time and finally saw a doctor, who diagnosed her with a stress fracture.

Wait a minute! Is she 84?

No, she's 40. So how could she have fractured her hip, without even knowing it, at such a young age?

What the heck is a stress fracture, anyway? Well, it can happen, like most fractures, after a fall. If it's not a fall, then it's an overuse injury, which means it occurs due to repetitive activity such as running or jumping. Like tennis elbow, runner's knee or carpal tunnal syndrome, a stress fracture in the leg is a common injury when one is overusing the muscles and soft tissues surrounding the injury site. Usually these types of injuries occur when someone ramps up the intensity, speed or duration of their workouts too quickly, without building up carefully. The muscles can't handle the amount of work being asked of them, basically, and the repeated impact from running or jumping is transferred to the bone, causing a fracture from the strain.

Whew. Now that that's over...

So maybe Kelly Ripa just upped her mileage too quickly. She claims to exercise every single day for 45-90 minutes. Apparently she aggravated the original fracture by ignoring the pain and continuing to exercise daily for a month before finally seeking medical advice.

BUT...

Here's my thoughts. Stress fractures also occur very commonly in female athletes whose diets are insufficient to meet their needs, and especially in those with eating disorders (which often cause osteoporosis... and if you want a stress fracture, stop drinking milk and get yourself some osteoporosis...).

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, "Medical studies have shown that female athletes seem to experience more stress fractures than their male counterparts. Many orthopaedic surgeons attribute this to a condition referred to as "the female athlete triad": eating disorders (bulimia or anorexia), amenorrhea (infrequent menstrual cycle), and osteoporosis. As a female's bone mass decreases, her chances of getting a stress fracture increase."

The woman is 98 pounds. What are the odds she's getting a plentiful, balanced diet? Maybe I'm a cynic. Or maybe Kelly Ripa should eat a burger. With cheese.

What do you think? Is Kelly Ripa too skinny? Super lean but healthy?