The Emotional Side of Obesity

I’m watching The Biggest Loser and it’s the session’s “makeover episode” where the remaining contestants work with Tim Gunn (an American fashion consultant and television personality) to get a new head to toe new look.

I’m enjoying the incredible transformations. It’s really inspiring to see the amazing weight loss before and after images. It’s motivating and inspiring. I would LOVE for Jillian or Bob can kick my butt – anyday!

A surprise family member guest joins each contestant as they walk out for their reveal. When the youngest contestant, Michael, came to campus, he weighed 388 lbs. At the taping of the makeover episode, he weighed 248 lbs. The most touching moment of this show was when he was joined by his younger brother, Max. Max, who is 17 years-old, looks much like Michael did at 388 lbs. When Michael walked out, Max was visibly upset. He expressed that he felt out-of-place and wants to lose weight like Michael. He said that he no longer wants to be the fat guy.

This made me feel so bad for him. Last week I wrote about obesity. I mentioned facts such as who’s more likely to be obese, girls or boys. I mentioned illnesses associated with childhood obesity. What I didn’t mention (nor really think about) is the incredible emotional toll obesity has on teenage boys.

There is so much pressure in society to look like the celebrities, to be rich and successful (and for teenage boys – add in: to have a hot girlfriend)…yuck too much stress! We as a society have lost touch with reality, but young guys like Max find their reality so far from normal and so challenging to correct that they suffer emotionally. My heart went out to Max.

Childhood obesity has severe consequences for childhood self-esteem. Obesity is probably more undesirable for an adolescent boy than for an obese child. That’s not to say that children don’t suffer emotional consequences – they do, but less so. Societies obsession with slimness has a direct tie to bullying in school. Even young children are on the receiving end of prejudice against obese people. Their peers in school often stigmatize obese children. Bullying is a serious issue. Teasing, name-calling and physical harm are a few examples of bullying. There’s also emotional distress, anxiety, depression and having thoughts of suicide.

Another emotional element of obesity is the reasons people eat when they are not hungry. Some use food as a defense mechanism to stop unwanted feelings, to deal with boredom, worry, guilt, sadness, and loneliness. Some people feel inferior and eat to feel secure. Unfortunately, the beginning of addiction is using food to find happiness or gain control in one's life is.

I hope that young boys like Max are inspired by the show to make positive changes in their lives so that they can be at peace with themselves and have a happier life.

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