Weight loss is difficult for many people because to be successful, you must be willing to change a lifetime of bad habits and maintain those changes to keep the weight off. According to MayoClinic.com, you must become completely ready to make permanent changes or you are doomed to fail. By taking necessary precautions and spending time preparing to lose weight, you may find it easier to overcome obstacles that previously kept you from successfully losing the extra weight and keeping it off.
Identification
It is often difficult to honestly assess the obstacles that make weight loss so hard. Self-assessment is not a common practice for many people. According to MayoClinic.com, you must be willing to admit where you went wrong in the past and what issues stand in the way of your commitment. Identifying those obstacles then requires that you deal with them, which can be just as hard. Marital problems, financial concerns, health issues and other family distractions often stand in the way of a successful diet.
Influences
American society is obsessed with food, and the influences are difficult to avoid. According to University of Louisville professor Dr. Sarah Johnson, television programs and advertising bombard viewers with food images ranging from cooking shows to TV programs aimed at losing weight. Meanwhile, obesity rates continue to rise as fast food outlets offering supersized portions continue to proliferate across the country.
Effects
The effects of long-term habits are difficult to overcome. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, it is easier to snack and grab unhealthy, high-calorie meals than to shop for fresh foods and cook healthy meals. Meal planning is a habit that takes time to develop. Other eating habits that make dieting difficult include eating on the run and not waiting for the food to trigger a feeling of fullness. Eating while watching television or standing over the sink are habits that sabotage diets.
Considerations
People tend to compare themselves to media figures and advertising models when assessing their weight. As a result, dieters often set themselves up for failure by setting impossible goals. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, it is much easier to set small, attainable goals and reach them in time, one by one, than to aim for huge weight loss goals with little thought to the concurrent lifestyle changes that are required.
Warning
Being obsessed with losing weight can lead to mental disorders that put you at risk for serious medical complications and even death. According to the American Psychological Association, the more you think about your weight and how you can control it, the more you put yourself at risk for developing an eating disorder. While vigilance is a positive characteristic of successful dieters, you should see a doctor or mental health professional if you find yourself losing too much weight, bingeing or purging.
Lifestyle
Sedentary lifestyles also make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight. According to the Weight-Control Information Network, only 31 percent of adults over the age of 20 exercise at least three times a week for 30 minutes or more, leading to excess weight and obesity for more than two-thirds of the adult population. The sedentary lifestyle starts in childhood as children spend more time with TV and video games instead of sports and outdoor activities. As of 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 16 percent of children under 19 are obese.
References
- American Psychological Association: Eating Disorders
- University of Louisville: The Psychiatric Aspects of Weight Loss
- MayoClinic.com: Weight Loss
- MayoClinic.com: Getting Past a Weight Loss Plateau
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: Guide to Behavior Change
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Overweight and Obesity
Member Comments