There is definitely a social stigma surrounding weight in our society, and many individuals who struggle with it unfortunately agree with the devaluing comments that they receive from others. In reality, when you agree with these degrading comments, it ends up creating higher levels of stress which hinder your overall weight loss. Heightened stress levels often correlate with hormonal shifts that can not only put weight loss to a halt, but they can also lead to weight gain.
Key Takeaways:
- Social stigma refers to the act of devaluing another person socially based on a characteristic they possess.
- Social stigma from others can be painful but surmountable. However, self-stigma, or stigma than comes from within, can be far harder to shake off.
- The psychological stress of self-stigma can actually manifest in hormonal changes, such as upticks in cortisol, which can sabotage weight loss.
“One important observation about weight-related self-stigma is that people of all body sizes can be affected by it.”