Obese people are currently suffering with mental illnesses at a rate that is disproportionate to that of the general population. Stories of success with extreme weight loss can be inspirational but are often few and far between. Ben Elmes investigates the relentless mental battle of obesity.
The World Health Organisation defines obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. Since 1990, the global percentage of adults living with obesity has more than doubled, increasing from 7% to 16%. There are now more obese people than there are underweight people in every region of the world excluding South-East Asia.
As obesity rates continue to soar, it is important to understand how and why people are falling into such harmful lifestyles. While obesity is often viewed through the physiological health risks that is poses, it can often be the cause, and even the result, of a variety of mental health issues.
Research shows that 60% of obese people are suffering from a psychiatric illness. Obese people are also five times more likely than the average person to experience a major episode of depression.
To help us understand obesity better from a psychological perspective, Jordan Martinez has offered insight on his life-altering 83kg weight loss journey. Jordan saw interest from various local media outlets and podcasts following his transformation and has since become a highly successful personal trainer and fat-loss coach.
He said: “I do this because I genuinely want to help people and see my clients lose weight the right way.
“I can proudly say that I’ve helped my clients lose over 1200lbs combined.”
Jordan explored what life was like before his weight loss journey began: “I always found quite a comfort in food. I’m autistic as well, so all these little things in my head were magnified tenfold.
“Because I found comfort in food – when I felt low, or I felt upset – I’d eat more. I was stuck in a vicious cycle.
“I’d tried everything that you could possibly imagine. I’d tried Slimming World, Weightwatchers, the Dukan diet. I was stuck in a cycle of starving myself and then being so hungry that I was then binge eating.
“I developed a lot of issues with food. It was comfort but it was a very toxic relationship.”
He added: “When you eat certain foods what happens is – they release the same chemicals in your brain as taking cocaine – dopamine, endorphins, etcetera. I found that in food, so food became a bit of an addiction for me, and a source of comfort when I was feeling pain.
“It was very difficult for me to actually find something that worked for me.”
Jordan highlighted how he now uses his own experiences to give his clients the best possible quality of service he can.
He said: “I always make sure that before any money is exchanged, my clients know exactly what I know, exactly how long I’ve been qualified, what I’ve been qualified in, and what my course entailed. I make sure that I’m the right PT for them.
He went on to explain how he tackles the emergence of eating disorder-like behaviour, should it emerge in one of his clients: “I’ve had clients that have emotional responses to eating – instances where they do binge eat or they do starve themselves.
“That’s a cycle that I am extraordinarily quick to nip in the bud, because I know the dangers.
“I actually developed anorexia; I’ve got pictures of myself.
“I look at that now and say – what was I thinking? I was so unhealthy, it was so dangerous, but it came down to a lack of education. Nobody had told me differently.
The problem is, once you slip into that, it is a very, very difficult rabbit hole to work your way back out of.”
Another example of a major weight loss success story is told by Jasmin Hartmann, a Lincolnshire based chef who made local news headlines earlier this year, following her astounding 72kg weight loss journey.
Jasmin has shared her experience with the stigma that surrounds obesity, saying: “I definitely felt pushed away more by the vast majority of people when I was overweight.”
She added: “People would look down on me or disregard me because I was larger. I felt like they were less accepting of me for the person I was behind the bodyweight.
“The most difficult thing about it was the personal shame and self-judgement. I had terrible self-worth issues which affected me mentally on a daily basis. This was difficult to manage alongside the physical aspects of bigger – discomfort, tiredness, etcetera.”
Speaking on the changes she has experienced since her weight loss journey, Jasmin said: “I have vastly improved my mental health since losing weight. I have more self-worth and confidence.”
The experiences that Jordan and Jasmin have shared, offer a glimpse into the mental battles that obese people face. As advancements in medical research are made, it is hoped that more support can be offered to people struggling with their weight in the near future.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with weight or mental health, help is available through the NHS website.
