Why is our emotional state so tied up with our weight? Is it just a number or is this a result of society forcing ideals on us? Let’s take a look at the different ways our emotional state is affected by our weight.
Seeing Other People Lose Weight
Whenever we see someone lose weight, we either feel jealous or we will be inspired to follow in their footsteps. I’ve seen this first hand, because my husband was extremely inspired when he followed the DJ Khaled weight loss journey. Not so long after the American DJ had lost weight, I found my husband joining the gym and trying to lose weight. It’s clear that we draw inspiration from the weight loss journeys of others.
Body Dysmorphia: Anorexia Nervosa
Society has placed so much pressure on us to look a certain way, especially when it comes to weight. We’ve all looked in a mirror and picked out flaws, but people with body dysmorphia are obsessed with finding flaws in their appearance. This psychological state (when it revolves around weight) often presents with anorexia nervosa, which is a condition whereby the patient reduces their food intake to dangerously low levels in an attempt to lose weight. Anorexia nervosa is a very serious eating disorder that should not be taken lightly because when left unchecked, a patient can literally starve themselves to death.
Emotional Stability Needed For Weight Loss
Anyone who claims that their weight loss journey was easy isn’t telling the whole truth. It takes a lot of physical hard work to lose weight, but it also takes a lot of will power, determination, and emotional stability. More often than not, people return to old habits and lose any progress they have made in their weight loss journey due to emotional stress. Some people gain a lot of weight during a break up, or may even stop trying because of their emotional state. There is no way to be successful at weight loss if you ignore your emotional state, because the reason you started your weight loss journey is inevitably linked to your emotions. Even if it is not for cosmetic purposes—you may want to lose weight in order to live a healthier lifestyle or to be there for your kids. These are all factors to consider but the basis of all these variables is your emotional state.
Summary
Even when we don’t like to admit it, it seems that we care a great deal about our weight. Fluctuations in our weight may have a great impact on our emotional state, and we may even look to others for encouragement and inspiration in order to stick to a weight loss regimen. Losing weight is not easy, because it is mentally, physically, and emotionally taxing. None of us truly brush off any comments about our weight, and we may suppress our feelings about it but the feelings exist nonetheless. Anyone who wants to begin any type of weight loss regimen should first check their emotional state and make sure they are emotionally capable of handling the struggle.
