The emotional risks of being overweight.
When the risks of being overweight are considered, it's often from the perspective of physical risk. In other words, warnings about being overweight are typically warnings about physical health risks. This approach makes a good deal of sense, as being overweight does in fact present numerous risks to one's physical well-being.
An overlooked aspect when discussing the risks of being overweight, however, are the emotional difficulties that overweight people often cope with. Being overweight can be a terrific psychological burden, which is typically expressed in one of two ways: through personal interaction, or through self-assessment. With respect to personal interaction, having an overweight physique is frequently a lead-in to criticism. This reality can be especially painful for overweight children. Children are often overly frank and even cruel in their criticisms. A child who is overweight can be bombarded with insults and verbal assaults by peers because of their body type. And the notion that childhood hurt isn't especially significant is not necessarily accurate. People who were overweight as children can be extremely sensitive, often because they were harassed as children by their peers for being overweight, and they still feel hurt by those criticisms.
Criticism for being overweight isn't just limited to children however. Adults can nag and harass and even insult other adults who are overweight. In fairness, adult criticism directed towards other adults who are overweight is often expressed from concern. The reality is that being overweight is a very effective method for shortening life span. Because they don't want to see people they care for die or become ill, adults can make inquiries of overweight acquaintances. These inquiries can feel like harassment though if they're delivered in an abrupt way or come often.
The self-assessment of an overweight person can be even harsher than the external criticism they may receive. Western societies particularly have a biases against fat people. The thinking often goes that overweight people are unattractive and/or lazy and undisciplined. People who are overweight are not immune to this perception. In fact, overweight people are often extremely unkind to themselves and flagellate themselves over their body image. Though understandable, this type of verbal assault against oneself rarely results in a positive outcome. A more likely outcome from harsh self-criticism is depression and an even worse sense of self-esteem.
None of this is to suggest that an individual should lose weight to please another person, or to please society. Weight loss should come about because an individual wants to do it first and foremost for him or herself. This is inner motivation, and inner motivation lasts.
