Book Online Obesity and Weight Loss Counselling and Treatment

Consultation with verified Obesity and Weight Loss counsellors and doctors on Zoom / Google Meet.
Get matched with right therapist
cover image

Mental Health Care to Help You Lose Weight

Sometimes, it can be difficult to shed pounds not just because of your eating habits, but because of a skewed relationship with food in general. The unhealthy impulses and cravings we engage in can be a part of a mindset that is working against you instead of helping you in your journey to lose weight.

Weight gain may happen because of psychological, physical, or mental disorders as well. It may also be caused by an eating disorder, which makes you take comfort in foods when, in actuality, there are other ways to relieve stress and anxiety.

The biggest advantage of seeking mental health care to lose weight is that you learn techniques and approaches that guide you to make long-term changes in your lifestyle rather than just changing your diet. Although diet plans may also be needed to initially lose the extra pounds, an overall mindset change is what will make that process even more effective.

On this page
right arrow
About Weight Loss Counselling
right arrow
About Weight Loss Counselling
right arrow
Therapists / Counselors for Weight Loss Counselling
right arrow
FAQs
right arrow
Start a Session at Your Convenience
right arrow
Major Causes of Weight Gain
right arrow
How Does it Affect Mental Health?
right arrow
Different Management Techniques Used
right arrow
Behavioural Treatment vs Medications
right arrow
Find Help From a Licensed Therapist Who’s Right For You
right arrow
Schedule a Virtual Appointment with a Counsellor Today

Mental Health Care to Help You Lose Weight

Sometimes, it can be difficult to shed pounds not just because of your eating habits, but because of a skewed relationship with food in general. The unhealthy impulses and cravings we engage in can be a part of a mindset that is working against you instead of helping you in your journey to lose weight.

Weight gain may happen because of psychological, physical, or mental disorders as well. It may also be caused by an eating disorder, which makes you take comfort in foods when, in actuality, there are other ways to relieve stress and anxiety.

The biggest advantage of seeking mental health care to lose weight is that you learn techniques and approaches that guide you to make long-term changes in your lifestyle rather than just changing your diet. Although diet plans may also be needed to initially lose the extra pounds, an overall mindset change is what will make that process even more effective.

FAQs

Most of our knowledge related to weight loss is limited to diets and workouts. But counseling or therapy has gained much prominence as most of the issues regarding obesity are a matter of the mind rather than just the body. Taking into consideration this aspect, we can definitely say that therapy works to create the right mindset for you to make positive changes and stick to them for a longer duration of time.
Becoming totally healthy and fit requires examining lots of different aspects. This includes diet, workout, sleep, and avoiding stress among others. So, having a holistic approach is what works best.
The number of sessions you may need depends on the goals you have and the conditions you may be facing that are acting as an impediment in your weight loss journey.
Absolutely, a change in your thought patterns and behavioral patterns can work amazingly well. One of the most basic therapeutic interventions is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy which works on changing your negative thought patterns into positive ones so that your actions can be in line with the goals you have set for yourself.
Ideally, the change of perspective and mindset leads to a lifestyle change itself. But that also depends on your dedication. If you look at the positive aspects of all the changes made during therapy and decide to stick to them for the long haul, then they will definitely be with you for a lifetime.

Start a Session at Your Convenience

Taking care of our bodies is the most basic form of self-care and self-loving activity that one can engage in. But when we’re constantly bombarded with unrealistic expectations regarding our bodies, it can be easy to fall into an unhealthy diet routine. Of course, one needs to work hard to lose weight, but it doesn’t have to be an extreme or unpleasant process.

Much of the weight-related issues that we face are not just of the body, but they also stem from our perspectives and mindset related to this aspect and our relationship with food. Therapy for losing weight helps in identifying and correcting these harmful mindset patterns that keep you in the cycle of going on a diet to shed some pounds only to later gain it all back.

By utilizing online obesity and weight loss counseling and treatment plans, you can give yourself a much needed tool to help you lose weight.

Major Causes of Weight Gain

Some of the major reasons why people gain and retain the excess weight are discussed below:

  • Food and activity: When we consume more calories than we spend through activity, we gain weight. This imbalance is the biggest factor in gaining extra pounds.
  • Genetics: Researchers have found that genetics play a large role in causing obesity. It has been found that genes can increase the likelihood of gaining weight. But, in this case, other factors such as unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activity can also play a role.
  • Environmental factors: The environment we live in also contributes to obesity. Not having affordable supermarkets selling healthy foods, not being able to access parks or gyms for physical activity, or being shown advertisements for unhealthy food items constantly keep people in an unhealthy loop of bad habits.
  • Health conditions and medicines: There are some health conditions that lead to weight gain, such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Cushing syndrome. Certain medications such as corticosteroids, antidepressants, and seizure medicines are also known to be contributing factors.
  • Stress and emotional factors: People tend to eat more when they are stressed out. This emotional eating is a major cause of obesity in people as they are unable to control their impulses.
  • Poor sleep: If one is sleeping less, they are increasing their likelihood of gaining weight because the hormones released during sleep help control appetite and the body’s usage of energy.

How Does it Affect Mental Health?

Having excess weight takes a toll on mental health on many levels. The inability to control urges makes us feel that we are not in control of our life. The self-confidence issues people face due to obesity is another cause of worry for people who always feel as if they are under the scrutiny of the people around them.

There are also eating disorders and mental health conditions that can lead to weight gain. The concept of obesity and mental health have a “chicken and egg” kind of correlation, where they can be both the cause and effect of each other. People may get stuck in this vicious cycle until they take proper guidance and treatment from health care professionals trained in working with these issues.

Different Management Techniques Used

Weight loss therapy uses different techniques to train your mind. The most prominent method used is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which aims to understand how our emotions drive our actions. In this type of talk therapy, a counselor discovers reasons as to why a person may engage in behaviors that don't let them lose weight. After the identification of negative thought patterns, the therapist works to change them into positive thought patterns in a structured way. Here are some ways that CBT can work:

  • Setting realistic and achievable goals
  • Taking small steps
  • Keeping realistic expectations regarding the weight loss journey
  • Avoiding triggers
  • Keep track of food and setting a workout regime

Behavioural Treatment vs Medications

Behavioral therapy works to change your thought patterns in a productive way, thus changing your mindset to help you lose and keep excess weight at bay. In the case of other mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, or eating disorders, a therapist may refer you to a psychiatrist who can prescribe medications for relieving the symptoms of certain mental health issues. Having a comprehensive approach toward creating a healthy mindset is what mental health care providers work for. They may ask you to seek the services of a certified dietician if they find that your eating habits are not conducive to a healthy lifestyle.

To stay fit, one needs to take care of their nutrition, exercise routine, sleeping patterns, and much more. The same goes for approaching the process of becoming fit mentally. A lot of different aspects may need to be worked on before you gain insight on the best ways to stay healthy.

Find Help From a Licensed Therapist Who’s Right For You

Starting to change your perspective on weight loss can be the best thing you can do in your endeavor to become healthy. To achieve that, working with a certified therapist who can help you take the proper steps is very important.

At DocVita, we have trained therapists who can understand your unique situation and give the right solutions. They can help you set realistic goals, motivate you to stay on track, and hold you accountable throughout the entire process.

Schedule a Virtual Appointment with a Counsellor Today

Having a holistic approach to your health is important. You can seek the services of health counselors, psychiatrists, and dieticians from our platform to help you along your journey. With Docvita, you’ll get personalized care from the comfort of your own home with a trusted provider. Simply book an appointment online and get started today!