Psychological Factors in Obesity Can Have a Large Impact

Psychological factors in obesity can have a big impact on the prevalence of obesity in our society.

There are a number of factors that can come into play, including:

• Depression
• Low self-esteem and/or body image and
• Eating disorders.

By creating an understanding of these factors in obesity, we are hopeful that those fighting them can also fight obesity.

When considering these factors in obesity, let’s first consider how depression can lead to obesity.

Many people who are depressed turn to food for comfort.

They may have various associations with food that make them feel better.

For example:

• Chocolate chip cookies may remind them of grandma’s house.
• Mashed potatoes may make them think of Sunday dinners growing up.

• Chips and ice cream may remind them of sleep-overs with girlfriends when they were in high school.

By eating these particular foods, they are remembering a happier time.

Unfortunately, turning to food to face depression can lead to obesity.

Often foods chosen as comfort foods are not low in calories or fat, so they can result in weight gains.

A very short-term solution to the problem (the comfort in comfort foods doesn’t usually last beyond the meal itself) can result in a long-term problem.

A problem which increases the depression as the individual feels guilty for gaining weight and is increasingly unhappy with their appearance.

There are several psychological factors in obesity related to eating disorders, including:

• Overeating
• Binge eating and
• Compulsive eating.

There are similarities in each of these disorders, and each of them can be worked on and the cycle broken.

Even those who are obese because of one of these eating disorders can overcome obesity.

Focusing on what is making you:

• Eat compulsively
• Overeat or
• Binge eat can help you understand why you do it.

• Keep a journal about your feelings related to food and eating, especially looking at instances where your disorder is dominant.
• Once you understand what triggers the disorder, see if you can address those issues in another way.
• Working with a counselor or therapist may also be very beneficial.

Finally, other psychological factors in obesity include:

• Having low self-esteem or a low body image.
• Feeling bad about yourself, or about your appearance, can lead you to seek comfort foods just as depression does.

As mentioned, these foods are often not healthy choices and lead a person down the path to obesity.

This then becomes an endless cycle because your self-esteem and low body image just become worse, making you want to eat more.

Recognizing these psychological factors in obesity, and striving to overcome them, is the key to overcoming obesity.

The next time you feel bad and grab a brownie for comfort, remind yourself that the brownie is not going to help you feel better.

Instead, try a healthier alternative such as going for a walk.

Exercise has been proven to boost a person’s mood.

Often, overcoming obesity can positively impact the psychological issues a person is facing.

This site is all about helping you overcome obesity.

Be sure to take that first step today.

Ready? Lets go!

• Incorporate a proven, complete nutritional program into your daily life.
• Enhance your nutritional program with a complete mutivitamin supplement because no nutritional program is perfect.
• Use a behavior modification and motivational program that will help you stay on track with your nutritional plan.
• Exercise at home with your own:
  Treadmill

  Stairstepper

  Exercise bike

  Elliptical trainer

  Hand weights or

  An aerobic video.

• See what kinds of weight loss aids your health insurance covers such as:
  Hypnotism

  Gym membership discounts

  Nutritional counseling.

• If you eat something bad for you, or miss a day of exercise, don’t give up. Instead pick up right where you left off.
• See if there is a weight loss support group in your area. Teaming up with others can keep you motivated.
• Visit a park in your city, county or state that you haven’t been to.
• Become active with fundraising walks, you get exercise and some worthy causes get funding.
• Some fitness centers and gyms have incentive programs geared toward keeping people motivated to lose weight; see if your gym has anything like that available.
• Keep checking Overcome-Obesity-Today.com for inspiration and even more ideas on weight loss!

You do not have to live with your weight issues.

No matter what psychological factors you face in your life, you can and will overcome them.

That even includes obesity!

So, go ahead. Start losing weight right now and take control of your life!

Will you start today?