Self-esteem is the best prevention for obesity.
By: Mae Sakharov
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"
How difficult it is to actually see one’s own image and not to picture Snow White in the looking glass!
Those of us who struggle with a lack of self-esteem constantly compare our lives to those of others, rather than acknowledging our own individuality. Many social scientists blame low self-esteem for a host of social ills, from poor academic performance, drug abuse, violent crime to weight problems.
On the other hand, a person with healthy self-esteem does not compete with others. They grow to understand their own unique and special gifts.
People who feel good about themselves act accordingly. Self-confidence is not inborn, rather, it is the result of day-to-day experiences. A person who feels worthwhile will hold his or her head high and persevere when faced with the challenges inherent in life. Healthy self-esteem is a result of having confidence and finding satisfaction in oneself, based on understanding, accepting and liking the person that you are. People with a healthy sense of self are enthusiastic, make friends easily and are energetic.
"Fat Land" has become a nickname for our country where weight problems abound, causing a lifetime of poor health and a myriad of psychological problems. Overweight children become overweight adults. This cycle is difficult to break and that should be recognized.
However, it also must be acknowledged it can be done by establishing healthy eating habits; having a consistent exercise program; and building a realistic and healthy sense of self.
Losing weight is not as difficult as repairing shattered self-esteem.
This is not to say all people fighting weight problems have a damaged ego. Fortunately, a strong sense of self also grows in families where unconditional love and acceptance abound. Self-confidence and coping skills are strong when a person feels that kind of love.
Such traits can prove crucial since many overweight youth continue to suffer the slings and arrows of childhood cruelty. Such kids can be insecure and often feel isolated and alone in the world.
When the weight begins to tumble off, many dieters set increasingly unrealistic goals and envision themselves in the image of some movie star or anorexic Vogue model.
Being thin does not mean happiness and love are just around the corner, but who can blame the dieter for having an image of beauty based on fantasy forms hawked in television commercials and fashion magazines? Being as thin as a model is difficult enough for the professional and near too impossible for the rest of us. Most models are at least 6 inches taller and 30 pounds lighter than the average young adult.
Not accepting oneself gives rise to daydreams, which give substance to the fantasy that after a goal weight has been reached things, all will be right, and dreams will come true.
Of course, it is not to say aspirations are bad but failure to reach them immediately can lead to abandoning a healthy diet, and the spiral of weight gain starts once again.
Some teens wonder what they will look like as a thinner person. "What if I lose a lot of weight and after all that I’m still ugly?"
When the realization life is not a fairy tale sets in, many dieters retreat back to their former comfort: food. Eighty percent of all weight loss results in failure and the return of excess weight. Such statistics must give rise to feelings of hopelessness and defeat, which can, in turn, results in more weight gain.
Taking a few concrete steps to build one’s self esteem can be a real asset in stabilizing weight loss. Live your life while on a diet: don’t put things off until the weight is gone. Buy some new clothes even if they will need to be passed over for others after weight loss. Take up a new hobby and by all means go out!
There’s no sense hiding in a room for months on end. Even without necessarily dating, one can always go to a dance with friends and have just as much fun as on a date.
Keeping busy with positive pursuits and not obsessing over weight is powerful. Time will pass, and goals will be achieved without denial.
A person with healthy self-esteem does not dwell on the negative and finds a way of focusing energy on things that are positive. One idea is to start writing in a journal and fill it with favorite quotes, pictures and examples of affirmations. When writing in the journal, try to set standards where the only competition is with one’s own self. That is the key to success in dieting and other pursuits. We all have limits based on many things and at the same time many possibilities.
People young and old who suffer from the American malaise of poor eating habits and a lack of exercise can become healthier for a lifetime. Certainly it takes work to look clearly in the mirror and see our own image reflected back.
However, from working years and years with so many different people, I know with certainty that each and every one of us is worth seeing.

