What is weight management?
Weight management isn’t just about reaching a particular number on the scale—it’s about finding a balance that makes you feel good both physically and mentally. Whether you’re trying to lose weight, gain weight, or maintain a healthy balance, you’re not alone. Many people face challenges with their weight, and while much of the focus is on weight loss, there are just as many struggling with the opposite problem trying to gain or maintain a healthy weight.
For some, managing weight feels straightforward—eating a bit better, moving more, and seeing results. But for others, it’s far more complicated. You might have tried numerous diets and workouts, yet your weight remains unchanged. Or perhaps gaining weight feels impossible, no matter how much you eat. These challenges can take a toll on your mental and emotional health as well as your physical well-being.
Why Weight Management Matters
Whether you’re dealing with too much or too little weight, it can have serious effects on your health:
- Excess Weight: Increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.
- Underweight: Can cause fatigue and increase the risk of weakened bones (osteoporosis).
The key to successful weight management isn’t about quick fixes or fad diets—it’s about making long-term changes that suit your body and lifestyle. Sometimes, addressing deeper emotional factors like stress or disordered eating is just as important as diet and exercise. Professional support can also make a significant difference, whether through therapy, nutrition advice, or medical guidance.
Wherever you are on your journey, you don’t have to do it alone. There are strategies and resources to help you achieve a healthier balance and feel better in your body and mind.
33% report trying to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diets
An unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity are the leading global risks to health
32.5% of adults have 5 or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day
Men and 16-24-year-olds are less likely than women to meet daily fruit and vegetables recommendations
What causes people to struggle with weight management?
Weight management is often more than just a matter of diet and exercise. It can be deeply connected to how you feel emotionally and mentally. Stress, loneliness, or feeling overwhelmed can easily lead to emotional eating, where food becomes a way to cope rather than a response to hunger.
Common Emotional Factors
- Emotional Eating: Using food to manage emotions can quickly create unhealthy habits.
- Stress: Makes it harder to stick to healthy routines and often triggers cravings for comfort foods.
- Mental Health Issues: Anxiety, depression, or past traumas can interfere with healthy eating patterns.
For those who struggle to gain weight, the reasons can be just as complex:
- Genetics: Some people naturally have faster metabolisms, making weight gain difficult.
- Health Issues: Conditions like hyperthyroidism or digestive disorders may prevent healthy weight gain.
- Eating Disorders: Conditions such as Anorexia Nervosa can make maintaining or gaining weight extremely challenging.
Eating Disorders
- Eating disorders don’t discriminate—they can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background.
- Signs to Watch For: Rapid weight changes, obsessive behaviours around food, and emotional distress related to eating.
Reaching out for help is a brave first step. Whether you need to address emotional eating or an eating disorder, professional support can make all the difference. Recovery is possible with the right guidance.
The impact of living with weight management issues
Weight management struggles—particularly when linked to eating disorders—can seep into every part of your life. It’s not just about food; these issues can affect your social life, mental health, and relationships.
Social and Emotional Impacts
- Social Isolation: Anxiety around food can make it difficult to join social gatherings, leading to feelings of isolation and withdrawal.
- Strain on Relationships: Loved ones may not fully understand your struggles, causing tension and misunderstandings.
Physical and Health Impacts
- Health Risks: Disordered eating can lead to malnutrition, heart problems, and weakened bones. During pregnancy, it can increase risks for both mother and baby.
Emotional Toll
- Low Self-Esteem: Continual battles with weight can negatively affect your self-image, making you feel inadequate or frustrated.
- Coping Mechanisms: Many people develop unhealthy coping strategies, such as rituals or avoidance behaviours, which reinforce feelings of shame.
But remember, you don’t have to face these challenges alone. Support networks are available—from healthcare professionals to online communities—that can provide comfort and guidance.
How can it be overcome?
Overcoming weight management challenges, especially when recovering from an eating disorder, takes time, patience, and a lot of self-compassion. It’s not just about the numbers on the scale—it’s about healing your relationship with food, your body, and yourself.
Strategies for Success
- Seek Professional Support: Work with dietitians, therapists, and healthcare providers to develop a personalised plan that focuses on both your physical and emotional well-being.
- Mindful Eating: Learning to recognise your body’s natural hunger and fullness signals can help you build a healthier relationship with food.
- Balanced Diet: Focus on a diet that nourishes your body with fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats rather than following restrictive diets.
- Gentle Movement: Incorporate enjoyable physical activities such as yoga, walking, or swimming that boost your mood and improve your health.
Emotional and Social Support
- Build a Support Network: Surround yourself with friends, family, or support groups who understand your journey and can encourage you.
- Specialised Programmes: If you’re recovering from an eating disorder, specialised recovery programmes can provide the compassionate care you need.
Ultimately, overcoming weight management issues involves taking a holistic approach that nurtures your mental, emotional, and physical health. With the right support and focus on overall well-being, you can work towards a healthier, happier relationship with food, your body, and yourself.
How can hypnotherapy help?
Hypnotherapy can be a gentle, supportive tool in reshaping your relationship with food and tackling unhealthy eating patterns. Whether you’re dealing with binge eating, stress-related overeating, or conditions like ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) can help.
How Hypnotherapy Supports Change
- Breaking Negative Cycles: SFH helps reframe your thoughts and behaviours around food by working with your subconscious mind, helping to break the cycle of negative behaviours.
- Building Positive Habits: Through deep relaxation and guided suggestions, hypnotherapy encourages healthier eating habits and reduces anxiety around food.
Benefits of Hypnotherapy
- Mindset Shift: Hypnotherapy helps shift your mindset towards a healthier, more balanced approach to food and well-being.
- Reduced Anxiety: By easing the stress often linked to eating behaviours, hypnotherapy promotes a calmer relationship with food.
Hypnotherapy can be a valuable part of a comprehensive treatment plan, helping you make lasting, positive changes. It’s important to work with a qualified professional to ensure that hypnotherapy complements your overall care and helps you move towards a healthier, more balanced life.
Our Weight Management Specialists
Carmen Harrington
Market Harborough
Caroline Prout
Thrapston
Chris Johannes
Spalding
Claire Noyelle
Maidstone East
Dawn Ibbetson
Chelmsford
Gary Johannes
Peterborough
Jill Whitehouse
Newcastle upon Tyne
Keeley Smith
Southend-on-Sea
Kerry Seymour
Weston-super-Mare
Peter Ely
Islington
Victoria Anderson
Sunderland
Why Choose Inspired To Change
Our solution focused hypnotherapists empower you to better understand your brain, helping to guide you towards solutions and achieve the outcomes you want. We have a team of fully trained hypnotherapists, giving you the choice of who to work with and how you want to work with them. Solution focused hypnotherapy is just as effective in-person or online in the comfort of your own home, so you can find the ideal therapist to help you reach your goals.
Every one of our hypnotherapists is recognised by governing bodies like the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the UK’s leading not-for-profit hypnotherapy professional association. They have all trained with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training, one of the leading hypnotherapy schools in the UK.
