How to Improve Your Body Image During Weight Control

If you’re heavier than you want to be, or heavier than is healthy, losing weight is an important step to change your life in positive ways. For men and women who struggle with their body image, though, even losing weight may not bring the immediate sense of joy and fulfillment that many people want. It takes time and effort to happily inhabit your new body.

At Sidhu Psychiatric Clinic, board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Kanwaljit “Kavi” Sidhu, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, and our staff offer a medical weight loss program for our patients in Palm Harbor, Florida, who are looking to shed the pounds in an effective and impactful way.

We understand, though, that weight loss involves more than just diet and exercise, and we aim to help you improve your body image throughout the transition.

What is medical weight loss?

Many people have difficulty losing weight on their own. It may be because they’re unsure exactly what they need to eat or how much exercise to get. It may be because there’s no oversight, and they can easily cheat on their diet without consequences.

Medical weight loss is a program provided by a healthcare professional, such as Kavi at Sidhu Psychiatric Clinic, who tailors a treatment plan to your nutritional and exercise needs, as well as your weight loss goals. In addition to guidance, you have periodic weigh-ins, which determine how your weight loss journey is progressing and hold you accountable to your goals.

Sidhu Psychiatric Clinic also offers cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a discipline that changes how you think about food, the way you eat, and the process of losing weight. It gives you the tools you need to be successful in your weight loss journey and reminds you that you always have someone to lean on if you need to.

Improving your body image during weight loss

While losing weight can help you reduce your risk for problems like diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension), it can also bring up new problems, especially with body image.

You may not feel immediately comfortable in your new body, which can be upsetting or even frightening. Losing weight slowly but consistently, which is one of the goals of a medical weight loss program, can help alleviate some of these feelings.

In addition, weight loss can change how other people see you. While many people think they want others to look at them and appreciate their new appearance, it’s possible that even positive comments about your body can trigger unexpectedly negative feelings.

This is especially true if you've been bullied or shamed for your weight in the past; you may still feel the pain from those episodes even after the weight is gone. Talking with Kavi about your feelings can help you find a path to move beyond them, but understand that it can take time for your brain to process all the new information.

In addition, it’s common for your self-image to lag behind the “new” person you see in the mirror. You may still feel fat, even if you've shed considerable weight. Researchers call this "ghost fat" or "phantom fat," and it’s one aspect of body dysmorphia, an inaccurate perception of how your body appears.

You may also be distressed by physical signs of significant weight loss, such as loose skin, stretch marks, and a loss of muscle and curves. CBT can help you address some of these issues, and there are many aesthetic treatments that can help you remove the traces of your former body.

In addition to sessions with Kavi, support groups are a great way to improve your body image. These groups offer a way for people to share their stories and experiences in a way that helps educate and motivate others. They can connect you with other people going through the same experience, helping you overcome your obstacles and feel better emotionally.

Body image is an important part of medical weight loss, and it’s something we take seriously at Sidhu Psychiatric Clinic. If you need help with your weight loss journey, call our office at 727-382-1383 or contact us online today.