Many emotional responses to weight loss are positive, but some people can experience negative feelings, including fear about eating and regaining weight, body image issues, or even a reduced sense of pleasure, possibly due to “neurobiological changes, shifts in reward pathways, or the loss of food as a primary coping mechanism,” says M. Furkan Burak, MD, an assistant professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston.
You May Not ‘Recognize’ or Feel Like Yourself
Consciously or subconsciously, your identity may be linked to your old size. “For many people, their identity has been tied to their body for a long time,” says Dr. Laddha. “When that changes quickly, there can be a disconnect between how they look and how they feel internally. It takes time and intentional reflection to integrate that new version of yourself.”
You May Have Strained Relationships
Spouses and partners sometimes feel jealous or threatened by the newfound independence and self-esteem boost that come with dramatic weight loss. “[People who’ve lost weight] feel more confident and start getting more attention,” says Dr. Karas. “They gain independence … and don’t need as much help. The partner feels like they’re not needed anymore and are being left by the wayside.”
You may also lose some friends, for similar reasons: envy and changing priorities that focus less on food and more on wellness.
You May Experience Continued Body Image Issues and Disordered Eating
The physical side effects of weight loss, including loose skin, are common but sometimes unexpected. They can make people feel insecure or uncomfortable instead of confident and happy with their smaller size.
Just because you’ve lost a lot of weight doesn’t mean your body image problems and disordered eating magically vanish. “It’s very, very common for [body dysmorphia] to continue,” says Karas. “People look in the mirror and just don’t see the weight loss.”
You might also find it hard to break patterns such as binge eating or emotional eating after shedding pounds.
You May Become Uncomfortable Socializing and Eating Out, Leading to Isolation
Some people who have lost a lot of weight may not want to put themselves into tempting social situations that revolve around food, instead isolating and avoiding socializing altogether. “What starts as structure can sometimes become rigidity,” says Laddha. “When someone begins to fear food or avoid social situations, it’s often a sign that their relationship with food needs attention.”
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