Psychosomatics of Excess Weight: how Emotions Affect the Figure

From your body’s point of view, there is no such thing as excess weight. Weight is always what we need at the moment. Weight is the body’s response to psychic reality which is created by our thinking based on past experience. We can spend a lot of energy on keeping in shape: regularly exercising, introducing special diets and procedures, but as soon as we relax, we gain weight again. And often even more than before. We are constantly fighting fat. We want to get rid of it. Why does our body store it?

Doctors say that up to 85% of diseases have psychological causes. Excess weight can hardly be called a disease (at least up to a certain point), but the mechanism of action is absolutely the same.

It has been proven that the appearance of excess weight can be triggered by a person’s emotions. And in this case, there is only one way to correct the situation – to change yourself.

The main psychological reasons for gaining weight:

• A subconscious desire to protect oneself from the outside world. The fatty layer acts as a kind of protective shell – the thicker it is, the more secure a person feels.

• Lack of attention. When we lack attention, we unconsciously begin to gain weight, in order to thereby become more noticeable to others.

• Seizing excitement and stress. With the help of delicious food, a person tries to relieve nervous tension, drown out feelings, and get rid of negative emotions.

• Low self-esteem, desire to please a partner. This includes different cases – those when a person gains excess weight in order to appear more solid in the eyes of others, and those when we unconsciously “change” our figure in accordance with other people’s tastes. The root of both problems is low self-esteem.

• Psychological or physical abuse. By becoming unattractive, we seem to try to protect ourselves from the repetition of such situations.

• Unwillingness to drew attention of the opposite sex so one “saves themselves” in advance. This can happen for various reasons.

• Enjoyment. When a person does not know how to enjoy other things, delicious food often becomes their only source of pleasure.

• Losing weight as the meaning of life. Some people are never satisfied with their figure – they stay on strict diets and, as a result, their health and metabolism are disturbed, and the lost pounds quickly return. Physiology has nothing to do with it – it’s just an imaginary goal of losing weight.

How to solve the problem?

Man and woman before and after weight loss

If the issue is psychosomatic, no diets and sports will give a sustainable result. Until we understand the reasons, excess weight will continue to return. Experts recommend acting in a complex, that is, using both psychological and physical methods. You need to control nutrition, lead an active lifestyle, and also:

• Learn not to depend on food as the only source of relaxation and fun. Find activities that please you, and draw positive emotions from them.

• Listen to your body. Every time you go to the refrigerator, ask yourself if you really feel hungry, or if this is another attempt to stem stress or other unpleasant emotions.

• Let go of old grudges. Some may find it necessary to consult a psychologist, others can manage by themselves. Accept yourself with all of your advantages and disadvantages.

• Make peace with loved ones. It’s not easy, but it’s worth a try.

See also: Three Features Helping to Lose Weight, and  Aromatherapy in Weight Control

TODAY’S TIP: Psychosomatics is a branch of psychology and medicine that studies the influence of psychological factors on the appearance of bodily (somatic) problems in a person. According to its principles, the appearance of various diseases is provoked by certain psychological problems: stress, nervous breakdowns, worry, anxiety, and so on.