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If you’ve ever carried some extra weight, you’ll know that it’s not a whole lot of fun. Aside from feeling uncomfortable, bloated, and tired, there is also the emotional impact of not looking or feeling your best. The psychological consequences of carrying extra weight are often overlooked when it comes to the bigger picture – overweight individuals are expected to just suck it up, get on with things, and change their situation.
The thing is, it’s not always that easy. Weight gain causes an emotional ripple effect that actually makes it harder to lose weight. Here are a few of the ways* in which being overweight actually hampers your resolve to lose the weight:
Insecurity leads to feelings of hopelessness
At first, being overweight has the potential to lead to insecurity. When your clothes don’t fit, and you don’t feel comfortable around your peers, it’s easy to feel unwanted and unloved. This type of insecurity often leads to feelings of hopelessness, especially when initial attempts to lose weight are not successful.
Hopelessness leads to feelings of inadequacy
Failed weight loss attempts often lead to feelings of inadequacy. It’s easy to ask yourself why the people around you are able to keep their weight in check when all your attempts boomerang.
Feelings of inadequacy lead to isolation-seeking behavior
Isolation-seeking behavior is a coping mechanism when we don’t feel accepted by our peers. Whether or not there is any actual bullying behavior or snide remarks is inconsequential. Often, nothing anyone else can say about your weight has nearly the same devastating effect as your own degrading commentary in your head. At this point, it’s often easier to just stay home by yourself than to engage in social interaction that makes you feel even worse.
Isolation-seeking behavior leads to depression
At this point, it becomes dangerous. Isolation-seeking behavior has been linked to depression in numerous studies. Humans are not supposed to be solitary – we evolved into a group-based society for a reason. Once you distance yourself from friends and family, the road to depression is well and truly paved.
Scary stuff, right? The good news is that being overweight is something you can address. No matter how much you have to lose, all you have to do is take that first step. There might be a long road ahead of you, but once you start to address your body’s needs you will immediately start reaping the rewards. It’s not about being ‘beach ready’ or conforming to societal norms about beauty, it’s about feeling happy and healthy in your own skin.
To find out more about the Slender Wonder medical weight loss programme, reach out to an accredited doctor in your vicinity today. This tried and tested approach to weight loss might be just what you need to get your glow back and regain your zest for life.
*Please note that every individual’s experience is different. Not all overweight individuals may have the same exact response to carrying extra weight. This is a general look at the feelings it could potentially evoke.
