It can be difficult to maintain a consistent wardrobe when you engage in yo-yo dieting or when you are prone to losing and gaining weight frequently. According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, talk show host, heart surgeon and director of the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital, you may even be setting yourself up for weight-loss failure if you keep a wardrobe that allows you to lose and gain weight without consequences. Clothes can hide a number of faults and should not be manipulated to sabotage weight loss efforts or to hide unhealthy weight loss.
Function
Clothes that stretch and are made of materials such as elastic and spandex are some of the most popular garb worn by people whose weight fluctuates regularly. The material expands when needed and conforms to a smaller size. The ease with which stretchy clothes accommodate weight gain, however, does not provide the signals you may need when you're gaining weight, reports Dr. Oz.
Types
Many yo-yo dieters keep a variety of sizes in their closets and drawers. A mix of sizes allows you to wear appropriate clothing depending on your weight at any given time. According to Dr. Oz, however, owning "fat pants" can set you up for weight gain, giving you an out, or back-up plan, if your weight loss efforts fail.
Effects
The effects of large, flowing garments hide the true nature of your body size. According to an April 2010 article in "Psychology Today," cultures that wear flowing robes and dresses usually do not place a high value on thinness or body size. Instead, some cultures, such as those in Africa, place a premium on heft and extra weight. Muumuus and other large dresses easily accommodate the weight gain expected of prominent women and can also be worn by thinner women.
Warning
It is possible to use clothing to hide illnesses or unhealthy behavior. According to Dr. Vinay Reddy, assistant professor of pediatrics and human development at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, people who develop unhealthy body images can develop anorexia nervosa, a condition that leads to extreme weight loss. Large clothes often are used to hide weighted items to fool the scales. At the other end, people who lose and gain weight through bingeing and other unhealthy behaviors may use oversize garments to disguise their lack of control from family and medical professionals.
Benefits
Free-flowing dresses, knits and expandable fabrics are ideal choices for people undergoing cosmetic surgery. According to the Mayo Clinic, procedures such as liposuction remove fat from specific areas and leave other areas bulging until all the treatments are completed. Additionally, following a procedure such as liposuction, additional weight gain often shows up in different places and can best be accommodated with clothing that adapts to your shape.
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