Weight Loss: Urgent Need To Overcome The Obsession

We live in a society where weight loss is celebrated, and weight gain is often stigmatized.

This relentless pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty standards has become overwhelming, fueling a dangerous obsession with thinness that is taking a severe toll on our mental and physical health. The rise in eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and plummeting self-esteem are just some of the immediate consequences of this toxic culture.

Did you know that according to recent studies, they found that 69-84% of women experience body dissatisfaction, desiring to be a lower weight than they currently are, and 10% to 30% of men exhibit body dissatisfaction with the primary concern being a desire to become more muscular. That is a shocking number!

But why has being thin or losing weight become our primary focus? Why do we feel the need to constantly prove to others—and ourselves—that we’ve succeeded? That we’ve lost the weight, ignored our hunger, or pushed through a 10km run on an empty stomach? Why has this obsession taken hold of our lives?

More importantly, your weight doesn’t define who you are. You are so much more than a number on a scale, with or without what society calls the “ideal” body. If you let this obsession take over, you risk losing sight of who you truly are, getting caught up in chasing an impossible standard instead of embracing your real, authentic self.

You are more than a number on a scale; you are a story of strength, love, and resilience

mentalBeings

The origin of thinness

Over many years, our idea of an ‘ideal’ or ‘beautiful’ body has changed dramatically—long before you were born, before phones were invented, before the internet, and even before recorded history. There was a time when women were celebrated for their curves. Even the goddess Aphrodite, the goddess of sexual love and beauty, was often portrayed with a full, curvaceous figure.

Then came the corset, designed to flatten those once-celebrated curves into the hourglass figure we recognize today. Women endured decades of squeezing into these restrictive garments, all in the pursuit of being ‘attractive’ enough to secure marriage and financial stability.

In the mid-1920s, slimmer figures began to dominate magazine covers, causing not only women to struggle with their body image but also men. This shift contributed to an epidemic of eating disorders, peaking during the 1920s and 1980s, the two periods in U.S. history when the ‘ideal woman’ was at her thinnest.

Now, I don’t want to bore you with too much history, so I recommend checking out this blog, where you’ll find the full development of body standards to where they are today.

My aim in sharing this information was to highlight the origins of the shift in the ‘ideal’ body. Before social media and the internet, beauty wasn’t about being skinny—instead it was about having a healthy, nourished body.

The Weight of Loss

Some of you might have already experienced losing someone or something special in your lives. It’s that empty feeling inside, but somehow, you keep going—either for yourself or in honor of them. That’s what happened to me when my grandad died eight years ago. He was taken away so quickly, yet a part of him still lives within us.

I know this doesn’t seem directly related to weight loss, but when you become obsessed with it, you start losing a part of yourself, too—a part that only lives on within others. The moment you begin to slip, you begin to fade away.

Please don’t let weight loss take over your life. While it can have its benefits, it can also become dangerously consuming.

The Dangers of Weight Loss

- Nutritional definecies:  diets involves restricting, which means that food groups are not being eaten causing their nutrition to be lost of have to taken through supplements. 

- Mental Health impact: Once your body reaches a state of malnourishment due to restrictive dieting or excessive weight loss, your brain begins to slow down. This can impair cognitive function, making it harder to think clearly or make rational decisions.
 
- Muscle loss Hormonal imbalances: Due to my rapid weight loss and my suffering with an eating disorder I have lost my period. though I am In recovery my period still hasn't returned because the body needs time to heal. 

- Heart Problems: Rapid weight loss, lead to electrolyte imbalances and arrhythmias, which can be dangerous for heart health. 

- Chronic Health Issues: Extreme weight loss methods can contribute to long-term health issues, including osteoporosis, anemia, and even permanent damage to the digestive system.

- Longevity Concerns: Studies have shown that individuals who undergo extreme or rapid weight loss may have a shorter lifespan due to the toll it takes on their body.

(you can find more weight loss dangers here)

I was told more than once that I looked older when I was in the middle of my eating disorder. Losing weight took a toll on my body—stress, loss of fat, and the dreaded excess skin.

But here’s the twist: now that I’m in recovery, I actually look younger than the average 20-year-old. It’s wild, but gaining back that healthy weight has given me a glow I didn’t even know I was missing.

Drop too much weight too fast, and you’ll be left looking like a spaghetti noodle with the strength to match. Nobody wants to struggle opening a jar of pickles or carrying groceries because you’ve turned into a weak little twig!

mentalbeings

Is Weight Loss Beneficial?

Yes, but not always. It is important to recognise why you want to lose weight. You can read more about its benefits here.

Ask Yourself: Why do I want to lose weight? is it because of...

Cultural and Social Influences: Are you feeling pressured by societal standards, family expectations, or the images of flawless bodies seen on social media and magazine covers? Is your weight loss driven by outside influences? 

Health Considerations: Are you considering weight loss due to health issues, such as obesity-related conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or joint problems? In this case, weight loss might be a medically advised step to improve overall health and quality of life. Always consult healthcare professionals to set realistic and safe goals tailored to your health needs. 

Personal Well-Being: Are you aiming for weight loss to enhance your overall well-being and self-esteem? When approached mindfully, weight loss can be part of a broader commitment to a healthier lifestyle, including balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, and mental well-being.

Redefining Success: Health Over Appearance

While we’ve talked about the dangers of letting weight loss consume your life, the key takeaway here is this: your health and happiness are far more important than fitting into a certain size. The number on a scale or the size of your jeans doesn’t define success.

Instead, it should be about feeling good in your own skin, nurturing your body, and embracing who you truly are.

How to Overcome Your Obsession with Weight Loss? 

Prioritize Health Over Appearance: Remember, your health is far more important than how you look. Focus on being healthy rather than just trying to meet a certain appearance standard. 

Surround Yourself with Body-Positive Influences: Surround yourself with supportive friends who promote body positivity. If you can't control negative influences, like those at work, do your best to ignore them. Don’t let their mindset affect yours. In fact, by focusing on a healthy approach, you’re already one step ahead. 

Seek Therapy: Therapy is crucial, especially if you’re struggling with an eating disorder. It offers the thorough support you need before things escalate, helping you build a healthier relationship with food and your body. 

Listen to Your Body: Your body’s hunger signals are there for a reason—don’t ignore them. Ignoring hunger can lead to restrictive eating habits, which can spiral into an eating disorder. On the flip side, ignoring hunger can also lead to binge eating when you lose control due to extreme hunger. 

Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself. Everyone has days when they don’t feel great about their body, but those moments don’t define your worth.

Escaping The Weight Loss Trap

Always ask yourself why your aim is to lose weight. Make sure it’s driven by your own well-being, not by external pressures or societal standards. Remember, your worth and success aren’t defined by your weight, size, or whether you’ve lost or gained a few pounds.

The obsession with weight loss can be dangerous—even deadly. It’s time to reject this toxic mindset and embrace a more holistic view of health and beauty.

Join the movement to overcome this obsession, not just for your well-being, but for the well-being of future generations. Let’s redefine what true health and beauty mean together.