Invisible scars: Can childhood obesity shape mental health?

I grew up as an obese child, and let me tell you… it wasn’t fun.

I remember being ridiculed, laughed at, not chosen for sports teams—you know, the typical bullying.

The two things I had going for me, though, were my oversized brain and charm (pun intended). Those factors helped me not feel socially isolated, even though I very much felt less attractive, less competent, and less valuable as a person.

And those thoughts still plague me today. Which, according to new research, isn’t too surprising…

It’s called “internalized” weight stigma… and it’s quite common.

Weight and mental health

Internalized weight stigma relates to the negative, obesity-related stereotypes that one might adopt unto themselves as a result of adolescent experiences and social circumstances.

In other words, if a person is constantly told that being overweight is bad or shameful as they’re growing up—they may start to believe those things about themselves.

In a large, U.K.-based study, researchers from the universities of Bristol and Leeds looked at this connection between weight and mental health.

They obtained data from an ongoing Children of the 90s project and followed participants for over three decades.

Then, drawing from over 4,000 participants, researchers discovered that those most at-risk of developing an internalized weight stigma were female or sexual minorities, followed by those who:

• Experienced socioeconomic disadvantages
• Felt pressure as teenagers to lose weight from family members, social circles, or the media

Now, for those of you who have never suffered with any weight-related bias—or whose stereotypes didn’t follow them into adulthood—let me reiterate that these findings don’t relate to weight as a number…

Rather, how your view of yourself—as a person—is influenced by weight-related thoughts.

A different approach

Personally, no matter how trim and fit I am, I struggle everyday with how I feel about my weight. I think about what I’m going to eat and when—basically, all the time.

Yep, I have that “food noise” many of you complain about.

Plus, I often look in the mirror and struggle not to see the obese adolescent I once was.

See, my childhood experiences absolutely followed me into adulthood. Which is exactly what these researchers were analyzing.

The point of this discussion is to normalize these intrusive thoughts. And to shed light on how influential societal and familiar factors are on mental health.

Throughout my entire career, I have always focused on and have emphasized the power of personalized weight management.

I want everyone to have the ammunition they need to feel good about their body. It’s not about looking good in a swimsuit or fitting in with a certain crowd.

My motivation in encouraging people to reach their own ideal weight—and stay there—is that I want them to be healthy.

Because when you can be happy and healthy, weight truly manages itself.

If you struggle with weight—or if weight-related trauma impacts your mental health—talk about it with your physician. Discuss your own health-related goals and the steps you can take, starting today. You might also consider seeking advice from a behavioral health therapist.

Source:

“Childhood Weight-Related Trauma Can Last into Adulthood.” Medscape UK, 04/22/2024. (medscape.co.uk/viewarticle/childhood-weight-related-trauma-can-last-adulthood-2024a10007nu)