What is weight management?
Weight management is 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, it can be a huge challenge. Many people struggle with their weight, and while much of the focus is on weight loss, there are just as many trying to gain or maintain a healthy weight.
For some, weight control 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. 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 wellbeing.
Whether you’re dealing with too much or too little weight, it can have serious effects on your health. The key to successful, long-term weight management is about making changes that suit your body and lifestyle.
Wherever you are with your weight goals, there are resources to help you achieve a healthier balance and feel better in your body and mind. Sometimes, addressing deeper emotional factors like stress or disordered eating is just as important as diet and exercise. Professional support can make a significant difference, whether through therapy, nutritional advice or medical guidance.
71% of people have felt uncomfortable about their weight
Nearly half of British adults are actively trying to lose weight
People who are underweight or obese are more likely to have poor mental health
33% report trying to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diets
Hypnosis has been shown to significantly improve eating behaviours
What causes people to struggle with losing or gaining weight?
Weight management is often more than just diet and exercise. It can be deeply connected to how you feel emotionally and mentally.
Stress, loneliness or feeling overwhelmed can impact your diet. Anxiety, depression or past traumas can also interfere with healthy eating patterns. These all make it harder to stick to healthy routines and often trigger cravings for comfort foods.
You may turn to emotional eating, where food becomes a way to cope rather than a response to hunger. This can be a vicious cycle, with ongoing anxiety contributing to weight gain. You may lose your appetite and not eat at all, or pick at small amounts of less healthy food.
For those who struggle to gain weight, the reasons can be complex. Some people naturally have faster metabolisms, making weight gain difficult. Conditions like hyperthyroidism or digestive disorders may prevent healthy weight gain.
Eating Disorders
Anorexia and other eating disorders can make maintaining or gaining weight extremely challenging. Eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender or background. They can cause rapid weight changes, obsessive behaviours around food, and emotional distress related to eating.
The impact of struggling with weight management
Weight management struggles can affect your social life, mental health and relationships.
Mental Health Effects
Long-term weight struggles can affect your self-esteem, making you feel inadequate or frustrated. Many people develop unhealthy coping strategies, such as rituals or avoidance behaviours, which reinforce feelings of shame. You may obsess over food, skip meals or binge eat – all of these can make mental health struggles worse.
Social Impact
Anxiety around food can make it difficult to join social gatherings. You may avoid joining friends or family for meals. This can gradually make you feel isolated and withdrawn. The people closest to you may not fully understand your struggles, causing tension and misunderstandings.
You might feel self-conscious about both eating and exercising in front of other people – or even just being in public places. Gyms or sports clubs could seem intimidating and you might feel judged because of your body shape. Many people who struggle with weight loss or gain avoid certain clothes, especially in summer. You might prefer to stick to baggy winter clothes that cover more of your body.
Physical and Health Impacts
Carrying too much or too little weight can cause many physical side effects and health issues.
They can lead to heart problems and weakened bones. You may struggle to sleep and find physical activity difficult or painful. You might find it hard to do daily activities like climbing a flight of stairs or carrying heavy shopping bags. For women, losing or gaining a lot of weight can cause irregular periods. During pregnancy, it can increase risks for both mother and baby.
How can it be overcome?
Overcoming weight control challenges takes time, patience and a lot of self-compassion. It’s about being open to change and healing your relationship with food, your body, and yourself. Weight management issues involve taking a holistic approach that nurtures your mental, emotional and physical health. With the right support and focus on overall wellbeing, you can work towards a healthier, happier relationship with food, your body, and yourself.
Build a Support Network
Surround yourself with friends and family who understand your journey and can encourage you. Support groups provide a way to meet people who have experience of similar struggles and can sympathise.
Set Realistic Goals
Changing your habits won’t happen overnight and setting unrealistic weight goals can also be demotivating. You’ll quickly struggle and it can then be disheartening when you don’t hit your goals. Make sure your weight, food and exercise goals are achievable – setting both short-term goals and long-term milestones can help spur you on. Reward yourself when you achieve them.
Seek Professional Support
Dietitians, therapists or a personal trainer can help you to develop a personalised plan that focuses on both your physical and emotional wellbeing. If you’ve unintentionally gained or lost weight suddenly, consult your GP to rule out any medical causes.
Mindful Eating
Learning to recognise your body’s natural hunger and fullness signals can help you build a healthier relationship with food. You can then combine this with apps like MyFitnessPal to check you’re getting the right calories and nutritional balance.
Balanced Diet
Focus on a diet that nourishes your body with fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats rather than following restrictive diets.
Regular Movement
Plan enjoyable physical activities that boost your mood as well as improving your health. Find something that you enjoy – this can be different for everyone. Gentle activities like yoga, walking or swimming are a good place to start. Start small, like a daily 10-minute walk, and gradually build it up.
Specialised Programmes
If you’re recovering from an eating disorder, specialised recovery programmes can provide the compassionate care you need.
How can hypnotherapy help?
Hypnotherapy for weight management can be a gentle, supportive tool. It can support you 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, solution focused hypnotherapy can help.
Hypnotherapy sessions help change how you think and act about food. They work with your subconscious mind to break negative habits and reduce cravings. Through deep relaxation and guided suggestions, hypnotherapy encourages healthier eating habits and reduces anxiety around food.
By making you open to suggestion, hypnotherapy helps shift your mindset towards a healthier, more balanced approach to food and wellbeing. By easing the stress often linked to eating behaviours, hypnotherapy promotes a calmer relationship with food.
Hypnotherapy for weight control can be a valuable part of a treatment plan. It can help you make lasting, positive changes. It’s important to work with a qualified professional to ensure that hypnotherapy complements your overall care. This ensures you can move towards a healthier, more balanced life.
Our Weight Gain, Loss & Management Specialists
Caroline Prout
Thrapston
Claire Noyelle
Maidstone
Dawn Ibbetson
Chelmsford
Emma Bancroft
Rainham, Kent
Emma Treby
Mid Devon
Gary Johannes
Peterborough
Jill Whitehouse
Newcastle upon Tyne
Keeley Smith
Southend-on-Sea
Kerry Seymour
Weston-super-Mare
Peter Ely
Islington
Samantha Morson
Canvey Island
Victoria Anderson
County Durham
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.
