How losing weight affects happiness (it’s not what you think!).
A new study of almost 2,000 overweight and obese adults in the UK has found that those who lost weight wereunhappier than those who remained within 5% of their original weight (Jackson et al., 2014).
Although they were physically healthier four years later — with lower blood pressure and reduced risk of heart disease — those who lost weight were likely to be less happy.
The finding still held after things like bereavements and serious health issues, which may have affected both weight loss and mood, were taken into account.
Although clinical trials have shown that weight loss is associated with improved mood, this could have been related to a supportive environment in the clinic.
It may work differently for people who lose weight without visiting a clinic — as most people do.
Dr. Sarah Jackson, the study’s lead author, pointed out that the reason may be that diets tend to make you miserable:
“Resisting the ever-present temptations of unhealthy food in modern society takes a mental toll, as it requires considerable willpower and may involve missing out on some enjoyable activities.
Anyone who has ever been on a diet would understand how this could affect well-being.
However, mood may improve once target weight is reached and the focus is on weight maintenance.
Our data only covered a four year period so it would be interesting to see how mood changes once people settle into their lower weight.”
SOURCE:
http://www.spring.org.uk/2014/08/the-surprising-impact-of-weight-loss-on-the-emotions.php(accessed 25.8.14)
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