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Fat Shaming Can Lead to Big Health Problems

  • February 01, 2017

The global obesity epidemic shows no sign of abating. Despite the widespread nature of this condition, many obese individuals may feel that they are unfairly subjected to “fat shaming”. This is generally defined as scorn, ridicule and harsh judgment directed at their physical condition. Alarmingly, CBS News reports that this perception actually compounds the health dangers faced by overweight individuals. 

It is not surprising that the physical damage caused by fat-shaming is primarily cardiovascular. Most people have suffered from a “broken heart” or two during their lifetime. Extreme emotional stress can lead to stress cardiomyopathy, which triggers symptoms that are very similar to those of a typical heart attack, including chest pain, shortness of breath, low blood pressure and even congestive heart failure. This is a recipe for disaster in obese individuals. Waist size has been linked to heart disease death in numerous studies.

Words can hurt but they can also uplift. There are countless examples, both scientific and anecdotal, of emotions exerting biological changes, and the impact does not have to be negative. Positive thoughts have been shown to prompt changes in your body that can strengthen your immune system, decrease pain and chronic disease, and provide stress relief. 

Two antidotes to fat-shaming are mindfulness and empowering health information. Emotions such as fear, anger, resentment and guilt can hijack your best intentions and impact you on a deep biological level, making it difficult to shift unhealthy lifestyle patterns. EFT can aid with weight loss by helping clear unconscious issues that may be driving your unhealthy eating behaviors. The power of positive thinking can be harnessed to help you take control of your health.