Our body weight—the digit on the scale—can turn a good day bad or a bad day good for some people. But it is more than just a mere number. It’s a number that evokes many strong emotions, judgements, and struggles.
For several, it is not just linked to their physical health but also their self-confidence, self-worth, and even mental health. The connection between weight and mental health is not only strong and complicated but also bidirectional. There are many direct and indirect connections between the two. Let’s understand both:
The Direct Connection
Gut Health Issues
The gut and mental health condition is well established. Increased gut issues like acidity, bloating, constipation, etc., not only impact one’s weight but also can aggravate several mental health conditions.
Higher Fat Percentage In The Body
A higher fat percentage in the body doesn’t just impact physical health but also can contribute to inflammation and affect mood and cognition by altering neurotransmitter function. This, in turn, increases the risk of anxiety, depression and other mental health struggles, making weight both a physical and mental health concern.
Illnesses & Chronic Conditions
While the mainstream media has emphasised strong awareness of several health conditions like diabetes, thyroid, arthritis, lupus, etc., even today the awareness about the complexities of many of these medical conditions stays limited. Chronic conditions impact body weight, which in turn impacts the self-confidence and mental health of the person. In some cases, they impact mental health first due to stress, emotional eating, or even medication side effects.
Living with many of these conditions isn’t easy, especially without a proper support system in place, which in turn reinforces this entire cycle.
Injury
Recovering from injuries is a long, rough, painful physical and emotional journey. Limited mobility and/or being on bed rest leads to an increased risk of weight gain, muscle loss, and an overall decline in fitness. It can also impact a person’s self-image and lead to isolation and an increased risk of anxiety and depression, making recovery difficult.
For athletes, it becomes much more complex, as any sport requires rigorous physical movement.
Hormonal Changes
The fast-paced life that we lead today is a leading contributor to high stress. This high stress means high cortisol levels, which promote higher fat deposition and increased risk of inflammation, anxiety, depression and mood disorders.
Similarly, thyroid disorders and conditions like PCOS often lead to weight fluctuations, changes in mood and increased stress, further affecting mental well-being.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders like binge eating, anorexia, or bulimia complicate an already complex relationship people have with food. Some people use food to deal with emotional distress, while others use unhealthy weight-loss practices due to self-expectations or societal pressures, putting both physical and mental health at risk.
It is important to remember eating disorders are not just about food and hence need professional interventions.
Mental Health and the Impact of Psychiatric Medicines
Different mental health conditions and psychiatric medicines, which are used to treat these conditions, impact appetite and weight differently. Some may cause sensory issues, while others may increase or decrease appetite leading to weight fluctuations. These fluctuations in turn impact mental health.
In India, where there is so much stigma around mental health, very few seek help from medical professionals, let alone dietitians, further compounding the issue.
Trauma
Childhood trauma, PTSD, etc., are associated with an increased risk of obesity, metabolic issues and an overall decline in mental and physical well-being.
The Indirect Connections
Lifestyle Issues
Sedentary jobs, long working hours, increased screen time, no time to cook homemade meals, and high caffeine or alcohol intake impact both weight and mental health struggles.
Emotional Eating
Many use food as a coping mechanism. Binging on desserts, late-night snacking or alcohol consumption teamed with high-calorie meals could provide temporary relief but it often contributes to weight gain, guilt and exacerbated mental health struggles.
Body Image Struggles
Body image struggles are real, and they can range from struggles with skin colour, body shape and size, etc. These struggles not only can impact one’s self-image but could lead to disordered eating, weight fluctuations and overall mental health decline too.
Weight Stigma
Weight stigma often starts at places that are supposed to be safe for a person, may it home, school, or workplace. It often starts with the first few statements one makes when they meet someone. Terms like fat (moti), thin (patli) or skinny, are thrown randomly in conversations by both adults and children. This can leave a long-term emotional and mental scar, leading to body image struggles.
Weight stigma is also common in the medical fraternity. Many individuals experience medical gaslighting, where their health concerns are dismissed or blamed on their weight. This often leads to receiving late or biased treatment, aggravating medical and mental health struggles.
Societal Expectations/Pressures
A couple of years ago, societal expectations were largely based on gender. Men had to look a certain way, and women had to look a certain way. The pressure was there, but it wasn’t as much as it is in today’s generation due to social media.
Conclusion
The connection between weight and mental health is complex, but one thing is very prominent: weight can impact the mental well-being of an individual and aggravated mental health conditions can impact weight. It’s also easy to get stuck in this vicious cycle, making it difficult to break free.
Overcoming this requires a holistic approach rooted in empathy and understanding, focusing on balanced nutrition, mental well-being, movement, and medical intervention when needed. Seeking guidance from a team of professionals, including a dietitian, therapist, and doctor, can be crucial in achieving optimal balance.
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