Losing weight won't necessarily make you happy

If you are overweight losing weight is essential for good physical health but it won't necessarily make you happy. The catastrophic increase in cases of obesity has created an epidemic which is undermining the health of people. Losing weight may in fact help your physical health while surprisingly leaving you an emotional mess.

There is no evidence of psychological benefits of weight loss.

Taking part in weight loss programs is generally associated with improved wellbeing alongside decreased cardio-metabolic risk. However, studies have shown no evidence of psychological benefits of weight loss reported PLOS One. However, this could be due to the inclusion of healthy-weight individuals. Researchers therefore investigated cardio-metabolic and psychological changes after weight loss in a group of overweight and obese adults.

Proportion of participants with depressed mood showed a greater increase in the weight loss group

The researchers found that the proportion of participants with depressed mood had a greater increase in the weight loss than weight stable or weight gain groups. The proportion of participants with low wellbeing also showed a greater increase in the weight loss group.

Meanwhile hypertension and high triglyceride prevalence were observed to decrease in weight losers and increased in weight gainers. It was concluded that weight loss over four years in initially healthy overweight or obese older adults was associated with decreased cardio-metabolic risk but no psychological benefit. The need to investigate the emotional consequences of weight loss has been highlighted by this study.

Weight loss significantly improves physical health

Research at University College London (UCL) funded by Cancer Research UK found that weight loss significantly improves physical health but the effects of weight loss on mental health are less straightforward reports UCL.

In this study of 1,979 overweight and obese adults in the United Kingdom it was observed that people who lost 5 percent or more of their initial body weight over four years showed significant changes in important markers of physical health. However, these people were more likely to report a depressed mood than those who remained within 5 percent of their original weight.

Questions about the psychological impact of weight loss have been raised

The results of this study do not mean that weight loss necessarily directly causes depression in view of the consideration that depression and weight loss may share a common cause. However, the study does show that weight loss outside the clinical trial setting cannot be assumed to improve mood. This raises questions about the psychological impact which weight loss has.

In the study the people who lost weight were found to be 78 percent more likely to report depressed mood. Lead study author Dr Sarah Jackson says she and her associates do not want to discourage anyone from attempting to lose weight, which really does have tremendous physical benefits. However, it should not be expected that weight loss will instantly improve all aspects of life.

Aspirational advertising by diet brands could lead to unrealistic expectations about weight loss

Jackson says aspirational advertising by diet brands could lead to unrealistic expectations about weight loss. Instant life improvements which may not be seen for many people are often promised. Showing the willpower to resist the temptations of unhealthy food in modern society is really difficult and may be associated with missing out on some activities which are enjoyable. This could have a negative effect on a sense of wellbeing. However, it appears mood may improve once the target weight is reached and the focus turns from weight loss to weight maintenance.

1. Prev:Women Go From Fat to 6-Pack with This Flat Belly Crash Course Plan
2. Next:Why high-fat yogurt may be a better choice for staying trim