Weight continues to be a deeply personal and sensitive issue for many adults, with nearly half of Britons confessing they feel embarrassed about their weight, according to recent research by online healthcare provider ZAVA.
These struggles frequently spill over into other areas, impacting social lives, relationships, and even career opportunities.
The study shows that women are particularly affected, being over 10% more likely than men to report feelings of shame regarding their body weight.
A third of those surveyed admitted to actively avoiding social events due to concerns about their size, while 16% confessed to postponing or cancelling major life events because they hadn’t reached a target weight.
Shockingly, 14% of participants believe their weight has also obstructed their job prospects.
But emotional eating and lack of motivation were identified as the primary barriers. Even for those who manage to lose weight, maintaining the results often proves difficult.
Of those who lost weight in the past year, 41% reported they had regained some or all of it. Dr. Crystal Wyllie, a top clinician at ZAVA, points out that emotional states, hormonal shifts, or even boredom can frequently trigger food cravings, making it difficult to commit to a plan.
She underlines the necessity of acknowledging these triggers to create better eating patterns: “Whether triggered by your feelings, hormones or simply boredom, you can gain more control over your eating habits by understanding your cravings.”
For instance, Dr. Wyllie highlights the common confusion between dehydration and hunger, advising that regular water intake can help distinguish when we’re truly hungry, reducing mindless snacking.
She also recommends the practice of mindful eating. Taking time to consider whether a craving is rooted in actual hunger or just emotion can help us make more deliberate, healthier food choices.
“Pausing to assess the root cause of your craving can help you build a stronger connection with your body and make better decisions,” she says.
She points out that foods such as avocados and nuts help maintain stable blood sugar levels and provide a feeling of fullness. This can help stave off pesky late-night snacking, championing a a nourishing diet which includes protein and fibre to combat cravings effectively.
ZAVA has developed a Cravings Calculator tool to help people identify the triggers behind their food cravings and assist in creating a plan to tackle them.