The impact on mental health being overweight or obese. The physical consequences of weight gain are known but what about the mental well being?
It’s widely known that carrying excess weight can lead to various health consequences, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Even being slightly overweight can increase the risk of health problems, which worsens as weight is gained. While the physical health risks of being overweight or obese are well-documented, the impact on mental well-being is often overlooked. There’s a complex relationship between excess weight obesity and mental health, with factors influencing each other in a cycle. Here’s a closer look into how being overweight or obese can impact your mental health.
Overweight vs obesity
While both terms indicate excess weight, overweight and obesity entail different things and are treated differently. Overweight refers to an excess of body fat and a body mass index (BMI) of BMI of 25 to 29.9 is classified as overweight. Obesity also has a similar definition but is characterized by a BMI of 30 and over. However, the difference between obese and overweight people is that the former typically experience changes or abnormalities in the body due to the extra weight, from issues like insulin resistance to infertility. This is why obesity is classified as a disease, but overweight is not. Such a distinction can be helpful for understanding how mental health can affect overweight and obese individuals differently.
How being overweight and obese can affect mental health
Weight stigma and discrimination
Both overweight and obese people may experience weight stigma. Due to narrow perceptions of the complexities of overweight and obesity, individuals with excess weight are often seen as unhealthy or lacking in discipline and are often regarded negatively because of it. This stigma can emerge in the form of teasing, bullying, or even being discriminated against in healthcare or work. Unlike other forms of discrimination against things like race or sexual orientation, weight discrimination is often dismissed or even permitted. Such experiences can contribute to anxiety and depression, and this state can encourage more poor health behaviors that contribute to weight gain, such as disordered eating or unwillingness to exercise. Experiencing prejudice or bias based on weight can be isolating and contribute to mental health issues. People may avoid social situations for fear of judgment.
Self-esteem and body issues
Societal pressures often equate thinness with beauty and worth. This can lead to feelings of shame, dissatisfaction, and low self-esteem for those who don’t conform to this ideal. Overweight or obese people may feel inadequate in friendships or romantic relationships or may even feel underserving of such connections due to their poor self-perception. A lack of confidence can also prevent them from engaging in social situations for fear of judgment. Body dissatisfaction may also discourage individuals from going to the gym or getting social support. People wanting to lose weight to address these self-esteem issues might develop unhealthy habits, such as going on crash diets or overexerting themselves in exercise to yield quick results. However, these are often unsustainable and hard to maintain, causing more health issues and deeper negative feelings.
Quality of life
Excess weight can limit mobility and participation in activities one enjoys. This is more prominent in people who are obese, as the greater amount of weight has a more significant burden on the body. They might experience a lack of independence or need to exert more effort into daily tasks, which can be physically and mentally draining. Obesity-associated conditions like diabetes and heart disease may also limit one’s participation in daily life and social activities due to poor health. This can lead to feelings of isolation and a decreased sense of enjoyment in life.
What can be done to address mental health?
Overweight and obesity can take a toll on your mental health. However, many options can help people dealing with excess weight get the necessary support needed. You can explore depression counseling options to help address negative thoughts and self-perceptions, allowing you to build resiliency and confidence. You can learn how to identify and alter unhelpful thoughts, improve interactions with others, or practice mindfulness to boost self-compassion. These options can help you understand the root of unhealthy behaviors or habits so you can put a stop to them and prevent your mental health from worsening. Healthy habits and self-compassion are key to improving your physical and mental well-being.
