Weight Issues
Body weight has always been a topic of conversation that never gets old. Along with the medical issues that come with being overweight or underweight, it is the self esteem and confidence associated with weight that is more worrying for most individuals. Most of us have, at some point in our lives, been on some kind of a diet. Repetitive cycles of losing and gaining weight leave people frustrated and unhappy. Alongside this, the idea of a perfect body in the days of social media is something that most aspire to achieve. This leads people to sometimes starve themselves and in turn predisposing them to a multitude of problems and an immunodeficient state. Overweight kids are at a particularly high risk of being bullied in school. They become self conscious and refuse socialising in extreme cases.
While talking about weight issues, most people only think of being overweight. But there being underweight is equally problematic. Quite a few people who are underweight are also under confident. They struggle with self esteem issues and are also prone to being bullied.
Types of Overeaters:
Impulsive overeaters :
These people have issue with impulse control which leads to –
- Inability to say no to food, even when not hungry
- Don’t constantly think about food but when they see/ hear about food they are unable to control themselves
- Commonly seen in people who are also impulsive with drinking alcohol and caffeine etc
Emotional overeaters :
These people use food to alleviate their underlying feelings of sadness or uneasiness. More women are emotional overeaters.
This type of overeating is also associated with depression and seasonal affective disorder (worsens in winters).
They commonly struggle with –
- Low self esteem
- Loneliness
- Feelings of guilt
- Hopelessness and worthlessness
- Crying spells and breakdowns
- Boredom
- Relationship difficulties
Anxious overeaters :
Sometimes anxious people mitigate their feeling of nervousness, restlessness or fear with food. They tend to always live in their “worst case scenarios”
Their overeating (and anxiety symptoms) worsen when-
- They overthink and focus on their negative thoughts
- Consume excessive alcohol (which initially may give them a sense of calm but actually makes them worse)
- Stimulants – coffee, tea, meth, cocaine
Conditions associated with untreated weight issues :
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bullying and school refusal
- Refusal to leave the house (fear of people judging, social anxiety)
- Low self esteem
- Suicidal tendency
- Addictions