How To Encourage An Obese Person To Lose Weight? Try These Ways!
Obesity is a life-threatening condition. The number of obese people is alarmingly on the rise. If you have any loved ones who suffer from the pangs of obesity, this article is for you.
Encouraging an obese person can sound simple. And that is the danger to it. Anyone can give advice and instructions. But it requires true compassion and knowledge to encourage an obese person to lose weight. Go through the article to learn how to encourage a loved one to lose weight.
Obesity: An Overview
According to data from the World Health Organization, obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. It has become one of the leading causes of death in the United States. It can increase the risk of other chronic conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even some cancers.
Body Mass Index aka BMI is the measurement that is used to diagnose obesity. Below is a table that shows how much BMI indicates certain weight statuses.
| BMI | Weight Status |
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5-24.9 | Normal |
| 25.0-29.9 | Overweight |
| 30.0 and higher | Obesity |
Health complications of obesity
As mentioned earlier, obesity is not a cosmetic concern. Rather it is a serious condition that can cause lethal health risks. Some of the health effects of obesity are listed below:
⚠️ Heart disease and stroke
Having excess weight can lead to the accumulation of fat in your arteries. Arteries are tiny blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to your organs. Studies show that 11% of heart failure cases in men and 14% in women are caused by obesity-related factors.
⚠️ Type 2 diabetes
Obesity can cause insulin resistance which is a condition when your cells won’t respond to insulin. As insulin plays a crucial role in regulating your blood sugar levels, a disruption in its mechanism can lead to diabetes.
⚠️ Cancer
Studies show that around 13 types of cancer can be caused by obesity. Some of them are breast cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, etc.
⚠️ Fatty liver diseases
When fat builds up in your liver it can lead to a condition called Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease aka NAFLD. This condition can later damage your liver and can create worse situations.
⚠️ Gallbladder disease
Gallbladder is a sac-like organ located under your liver. Any kind of inflammation or infection caused to this part can result in gallbladder disease. Having excessive weight can cause you to develop a gallstone. This is because the high levels of cholesterol in obese people can result in the creation of gallstones.
⚠️ Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a condition where you experience nagging joint pains. It is a joint disorder that can affect the joints in your hands, knees, back, hips, and neck. Studies have shown that being overweight can put your body in a risky situation to develop osteoarthritis.
Some other health conditions caused by obesity include Sleep apnea, Gout, Kidney diseases, metabolic syndromes, mental illness, etc.
Ways To Encourage An Obese Person To Lose Weight
If any of your friends or loved ones are suffering from obesity, supporting them is crucial. But many of us don’t know how to properly support them. Obese people are aware of their condition and are stigmatized daily.
So they don’t need someone to point at their belly fat and ask them to “just lose weight”. If you want to help a friend who is going through the hardships of being obese, you can do something else.
Below is a list of points that you can try to encourage a loved one that suffers from obesity.
✅ Take part in their weight loss program: If the person is part of any active diet or fitness routine, try to be a part of them. This means you can taste some foods that they make for their diet. Or you can enroll in the gym with them and work out together.
✅ Help them to create healthy rewards: Whenever your obese friend accomplishes a weight loss goal, try to bring some healthy rewards. Celebrate with them and make it as healthy as possible.
✅ Do not focus on their diet, instead focus on them: When you want to truly encourage an obese person to lose weight, focus on their life. This doesn’t mean you have to point out their diet every time. It means that they should feel that you can be accounted for in every aspect of their lives.
✅ Be a listener: This is an extremely important step. If your obese friend is having some difficulty, try to listen to them without judgment. If they are spiraling back from healthy habits to unhealthy ones, listen to their complaints patiently. Do not judge.
✅ Make them know your presence: If you want to help an obese friend, you should be available to them. They should feel like you are a person that they can seek support from.
✅Learn their weight loss tactics: Whatever weight loss program is chosen by your obese friend, learn about them first. If they are attending any meetings or activities, understand the structure and schedule of these.
✅ Be optimistic for them: Being positive for an obese friend is the most important step. So that whenever they feel like they are not supported enough, a face full of positivity can change their mindset.
What not to do while encouraging an obese person to lose weight?
While it is important to encourage your obese friend to lose weight, it is as well as important to not do certain things. Check these negative habits before you want to encourage your loved ones to lose weight.
❎ Do not advise them: If you want to encourage an obese person to lose weight, the first step is not to advise them. You are not their coach, so do not pretend like you are. Instead, you can be a cheerleader. This means whenever they accomplish a milestone in weight loss, congratulate them and be a part of their celebrations.
❎ Don’t put too much focus on weight loss: It is okay if you want to help an obese friend lose weight. But the thing is you shouldn’t put too much emphasis on this aspect. Instead, motivate them to stick to a healthy lifestyle.
❎ Don’t be so harsh: If you plan to encourage your obese friend to lose weight, do it with love. Don’t be that “food police” that takes note of everything they eat and drink.
❎ Don’t be judgemental: One of the most important aspects of being a good friend to an obese person is to listen to them without judgment. Avoid asking them questions like “did you follow the diet today”. Put the criticism outside the door.
❎ Don’t tease them: If your obese friend is on any diet, make sure not to tempt them with unhealthy foods. Avoid asking them to take a bite with love as it can cause harm to them.
❎ Don’t overdo the encouragement: Last but not least, do not bombard them with motivation and encouragement to lose weight. The style of each person is different in weight loss. Be patient and allow them to come to track at their own pace.
Also read: How To Choose Best Dresses For Obese Women: A Style Guide!
Takeaway
Going through the article, one can understand that encouraging an obese person to lose weight is not as easy as it seems. One needs to have some deep insight and compassion regarding the mental state of the obese person to do that effectively.
Obesity is not just a cosmetic concern rather it is a life-threatening disease. One needs to acknowledge the social stigma related to obesity before encouraging anyone to lose weight. Walking in the shoes of an obese person is the first and foremost step one has to take before the motivation process.
Being a good listener and helping them to fulfill their weight loss goals gradually is the key to becoming a good motivator.
