Dieting and Psychological Health in Women

Back in my days in high school, I used to see skinny girls who wanted to become thinner than they were. They would resort to dieting and starving themselves to make it to their ideal body and still be unsatisfied. In addition to the mental fatigue due to being extremely conscious and worried, dieting even took the natural teenage glow that a person has and replaced it with dark circles and a weak body. So instead of worrying about having extra weight (which probably didn’t even exist), they got more worried when their skin refused to look like it did in the pre-dieting days.

Although we all dream of a body that is fat-free and perfect, as defined by the societal standards and the public figures we would idolize, it takes a lot of hard work to get to that pinnacle and remain steady on it. In this world of social media, where flaunting perfection is the standard norm, women, most importantly, have become psychological victims of a number of issues. Interestingly, this phenomenon is not restricted to any particular country or continent. The range of its effect is on a global level. The physical effects of dieting can still be seen on the body and face. But more dangerous is the psychological effect.

Dieting and Anorexia

As per a survey, about 1.7% of women in the world try to reach their ideal body by dieting. Out of this, 1% suffer from Anorexia (the drive to get thin accompanied by the fear of gaining weight). The psychological extent is such that they have anxiety and even issues with sleep. The victims of Anorexia have worries, insecurity, and the excessive consciousness requires frequent reassurance that they still look good.

Eating Disorder

We may have our moments of accomplishments but starving ourselves only leads to over-eating. Dieting can also cause an eating disorder which is far more dangerous when the question is about reducing weight. So instead of reaching the ideal body weight or even maintaining it, the result is gain and more gain. Following a restricted and monitored diet increases cravings and desire to have food that soothes the taste buds, and therefore, the amount being eaten increases, and so does the gaining kilograms.

The Game of Guilt

A person would follow their diet, they would be proud of themselves. Then, the cravings increase, and they eat in excess. The result is the guilt that follows. The guilty feeling of having eaten in excess gives a different kind of stress, and the worry is more than the initial worry of being overweight. This guilt trip shoots the stress levels, and the effects are such that women would feel guilty about even eating for basic survival.

The worry about looking perfect is the driving force behind the extreme measures women take like starving themselves and sacrificing their desires to eat the foods they relish. The ways to reduce weight can be beyond just dieting and starving or even mindlessly going to the gym. We have a tendency to follow what we hear from others without understanding that everyone’s body is different and responds differently. One example would be the people who eat everything, and their body just doesn’t budge from their thin version and vice versa. The right approach with appropriate knowledge would be the guide to the right way to reduce weight.

I don’t know how much weight gain or loss the skinny girls in my school have later in life, but one thing is for sure. If it is about weight loss, there are more ways to achieve it than just one. Finding the way that is suitable for your body and schedule should be the one to be implemented.