Psychological & Emotional Benefits Of Losing Weight

Dr Nick Fuller
Leading Obesity Expert at the University of Sydney and founder of Interval Weight Loss.

Shedding kilos primarily for health reasons is a popular endeavour, and people often report immense improvements in their self-image and mental health. While weight gain is often a physical manifestation of over-eating and sedentary lifestyles, it can also reflect your emotional state and mental health issues related to your body image and other stresses.

From avoiding mirrors, shopping for clothes and social events to losing self-confidence at work and within your circle of friends, your weight can play havoc on your feeling of body image and mental health despite praise from loved ones who see you for who you really are; a compassionate and loving person. In this article, we’ll discuss the emotional benefits of weight loss and how shedding extra baggage may help you combat negative thoughts and set you up for self-realisation.

Pause the emotional eating

There’s a reason why emotional eating is one of the leading causes of weight gain, and it has nothing to do with the food itself. We all know that when we become stressed or depressed over our body image, our mood tends to darken — and if you can't deal with those feelings on an emotional level, then there's always comfort in consuming something sweet or salty. But what many people don't realise is how this affects their body — not only does indulging prolong feelings of discomfort by making them bittersweet, but it increases the opportunity to overeat excess calories, resulting in further guilt and upset.

Studies have shown that weight loss treatments that focused on physical exercise and self-regulation of emotions exhibited an increase in a positive mood while decreasing the need for compensatory eating. When practised over three months, it created a habit that continued into the future.

Relieves pressure on your self-esteem

The pressure to be a certain weight is something that many people experience in their lives. For some, the pressure comes from society's expectations or social media; for others, the stress is self-imposed through unrealistic dieting and exercise goals. Weight gain can put immense pressure on your body, causing physical pain and fatigue — it can also lead to mental health problems such as poor body image and depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia.

Finding a healthy balance that works for you is key to managing this tension. This might mean setting realistic goals, responding to your body’s cues or seeking a balanced and holistic weight loss program. Taking a measured and sensible approach to weight management allows you to feel a greater sense of active control over your lifestyle choices with a noticeable change in mood and self-esteem in correlation to the rate of noticeable weight loss.

Whether you intend to lose five or 15 kilograms, the psychological benefits of weight loss will help you achieve better self-acceptance and separate emotions from eating. With a little spark, you can gain the confidence to assert yourself more prominently at work and in your social circle.

Enjoy the psychological benefits of weight loss with Interval Weight Loss

With an active, science-backed, doctor-designed weight loss program like Interval Weight Loss, you can lose the kilos and negative thoughts and revel in the emotional benefits of weight loss. To be the change you want to see, sign up today or for more information, check out our resources and try out a balanced and nutritional recipe for your family.