Body image and weight loss: large weight loss changes a person's relationship with their body in ways that can be psychologically complex. Some of that is positive; some might involve adjustment or processing.
1 like 21mo
Wellbeing · Mental health · continued
Food noise reducing and the disorientation that can follow posts 31–46
This is a continuation of a long topic, addressed by post number rather than by page. Start at post 1.
buffer_sheet, post #9: Disordered eating history: a history of anorexia, bulimia, or other eating disorders changes the risk-benefit calculation. Appetite suppression might trigger relapse. Specialist input is prudent. Go to post
post #31 answers the question as asked. The question underneath it is different.
Social and relationship impacts: weight change affects how others perceive and interact with a person. Those impacts are real and can be psychologically significant.
Coming back to post #31, because the follow-up matters more than the original answer.
Identity and self-image: for some people, weight and body size are central to identity. Large change to body size can affect identity. This is not pathological; it is human.
15 likes 21mo
Thank you for the correction. I have edited my earlier post with a note rather than silently, so the thread still makes sense to read. The error was mine and it was the kind that comes from remembering a figure instead of looking it up.
6 likes 21mo
Worth separating two things that post #31 runs together.
Motivation and expectation: starting with clear motivation and realistic expectations about what will happen and when helps with psychological adjustment.
3 likes 21mo
VPoulsen, post #13: On post #9 — agreed on the reasoning, with one qualification. When to involve a professional: if mood changes are persistent, deepen over weeks, or interfere with function, involving a mental health professional is appropriate. These are not trivialities to ignore. Go to post
post #35 is right about the mechanism and I think understates the practical bit.
Support and community: some people process weight change through community (online or in-person). Others prefer privacy. Knowing what you need and seeking it proactively helps.
k.asante, post #2: On the opening post — agreed on the reasoning, with one qualification. Mood and anxiety: mood changes and anxiety are reported by some people. Baseline mental health status matters for risk. Someone with a history of depression should plan closer monitoring. Go to post
Mood and anxiety: mood changes and anxiety are reported by some people. Baseline mental health status matters for risk. Someone with a history of depression should plan closer monitoring.
r.torrence, post #27: Sleep and mental health: these compounds can affect sleep for some people. Sleep deprivation worsens mood and anxiety. Addressing sleep separately from mood matters. Go to post
On post #35 — agreed on the reasoning, with one qualification.
Social and relationship impacts: weight change affects how others perceive and interact with a person. Those impacts are real and can be psychologically significant.
Collapsed as off-topic by two members at trust level 3 or above
I disagree with the reply above, and I think the disagreement is substantive rather than terminological.
The distinction being drawn does not survive when you look at the published data for this specific question. I would be glad to be shown wrong on this, because the version I am arguing against is more convenient.
r.torrence, post #27: Sleep and mental health: these compounds can affect sleep for some people. Sleep deprivation worsens mood and anxiety. Addressing sleep separately from mood matters. Go to post
Disordered eating history: a history of anorexia, bulimia, or other eating disorders changes the risk-benefit calculation. Appetite suppression might trigger relapse. Specialist input is prudent.
Picking up post #40: that is the part I would want checked first.
Body image and weight loss: large weight loss changes a person's relationship with their body in ways that can be psychologically complex. Some of that is positive; some might involve adjustment or processing.
26 likes 20mo
h.almeida, post #15: Mood and anxiety: mood changes and anxiety are reported by some people. Baseline mental health status matters for risk. Someone with a history of depression should plan closer monitoring. Go to post
Having read the exchange above, I think I was wrong earlier in this topic and I want to say so plainly rather than quietly editing.
The correction was fair and I had been repeating something I had not checked carefully enough.
Collapsed as off-topic by two members at trust level 3 or above
For anyone arriving from a search: the marked solution above is the direct answer, and the replies underneath it add the caveats that make it safe to use.
Worth separating two things that post #42 runs together.
Motivation and expectation: starting with clear motivation and realistic expectations about what will happen and when helps with psychological adjustment.
18 likes 20mo
This topic was referenced in
- Mood changes: monitoring, and when to involve a professional — what changed sinceWellbeing › Mental health · 10 replies
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