by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: November 13, 2009   Last Updated: November 14, 2009

Being obese can impact upon your self-esteem and leave you with very little confidence, as not only do you stand out from other people because of your size; other people can be pretty nasty about the fact that you're big. This obviously can make you reluctant to socialise or to try new things, as you are always conscious of what everyone else thinks of the way you look, and worried that you are going to encounter negative comments. You know that you're fat; you don't need to hear it from anyone else, and so losing weight can be one way of getting rid of any unwanted attention.

It seems unfortunate that in order to fit in with society the obese have to lose weight. Being overweight or obese may not be particularly good for your health, but most people don't lose weight for that reason; they often decide to lose weight because they want to be 'normal' and to be able to fit into smaller sized clothing. With this kind of attitude they tend to take what they see as the quickest route to weight loss, which usually involves crash dieting. If you go on a crash diet you may lose a few pounds, but once you start eating again you'll gain it all back again along with a few additional pounds.

It is therefore worth looking at weight loss as a long-term process that requires you to focus on your health and fitness rather than allowing yourself to become preoccupied with fitting into size 0 clothing.

Losing weight can improve your social life, as it enables you to participate in activities that you were formerly too unfit and too large to do. After losing weight you can go for a walk or on a bike ride with friends without worrying that you won't be able to keep up, while you no longer have to worry that when you go to a theme park or cinema you won't be able to fit into the seats. You can go shopping with friends and pick up clothes that actually fit and this makes you feel good.

When you've lost a bit of weight you generally have more confidence in yourself, and this shows in social situations. It is much easier for you to talk to complete strangers and to make new friends because you no longer have to regard your weight as a barrier, since people are no longer able to make negative judgements about you on the basis of your size.

Losing weight can therefore enhance your social life, as you find yourself looking forward to going out with friends and meeting new people, rather than dreading having to engage with other people due to a self-consciousness over your size.

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