Research on fat-shaming and pre-diabetes may explain weight loss fails. A study in the journal Obesity says weight bias drives depression, which slows weight loss and metabolism, and spurs comfort eating. Body-shaming also indirectly causes insulin resistance (also called metabolic syndrome). If untreated this "prediabetes" leads directly to Type 2 diabetes. These findings prove bariatric surgery doctors on "My 600-lb Life" correct.
Obesity, weight loss, and depression
Obesity is a physical disease with mental health roots in anxieity, low self-esteem, and shame.
Weight problems can be treated with gastric bypass surgery, diet, and exercise. But the symptoms -- food addiction, comfort eating, overeating -- won't heal until the triggers are addressed. On the reality televsion show "My 600-lb Life," bariatric surgery patients are also seen by a psychologist. Some, like Cynthia Wells think counseling is "bulls--t" and has nothing to do with weight loss. But others like Brandy and Kandy Dreier and Kirstin Perez find it very helpful.
Weight bias stymies weight loss
Fat-shaming increases the risk of prediabetes? How can that be -- it's just words. Sticks and stone might not break bones but they do leave scars. And weight bias is more than words: it's blame, bullying, harassment, nagging, discrimination and marginalizing fat people.
Just suggesting a person lose weight can be harmful. All these drive depression and make a person lethargic. It's hard enough to lug around 400-600 extra pounds. Shaming kils any willpower they have to move. A YouTube vlogger used "My 600-lb Life" patients to describe depression.
Fat-shaming kills metabolism
The YouTube vlogger isn't overweight but she says being depressed is like living "My 600-lb Life" and carrying around that weight.
It's harder to practice self-care when your self-image is shot. It's a form of PTSD. Shamed people start to auto-shame themselves (if they didn't already). So people with low self-esteem aren't lazy, they're sad. And it's not laziness behind obesity. Shame depletes hormones and neurotransmitters that drive metabolism. Comfort eating of high-calorie junk foods plus depression creates insulin resistance. That metabolic syndrome fast leads to full-blown Type 2 diabetes if untreated.
