At first glance, you might think, “Of course losing weight makes you healthier and happier!” But the truth is much more complicated, and the answer is probably no. In fact, promoting weight loss as the key to health and happiness may be doing more harm than good. Here’s why.
When someone loses weight, they often feel fantastic, report lower cholesterol, reduced blood pressure, and other positive medical markers. It’s true—losing weight can have immediate benefits, and that’s something to celebrate. But here’s the catch: maintaining that weight loss over the long term is incredibly difficult, with most people regaining the weight within three years. I know this from personal experience, having researched weight loss maintenance for my master’s thesis and nearly pursuing a Ph.D. in the topic.
So, if weight loss is supposed to make us healthier and happier, but maintaining it is near impossible, what’s the point? This brings us to the larger issue with tying our health and happiness to our weight.
For over 20 years, research has shown that body weight is not a reliable indicator of health. There is little evidence linking body size to overall health outcomes, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Yes, being in a certain weight range can correlate with some positive health markers, but it’s not the determining factor.
Here’s the good news: the habits that contribute to weight loss—like exercise, better nutrition, improved sleep, stress management, and positive relationships—are the real drivers of health and happiness. These behaviours improve our well-being regardless of whether or not we lose weight.
When people embark on a weight loss journey, they tend to adopt behaviors that boost their overall well-being. They exercise more, eat better, set goals, and feel a sense of purpose. They get outside, move their bodies, connect with others, and create healthy routines. These habits, not the number on the scale, are what truly make us feel healthier and happier.
So, does weight loss make you happier and healthier? Arguably, no. What actually makes us feel better are the behaviours that lead to weight loss, and they often have benefits far beyond a smaller waistline. By focusing on these behaviours first—rather than obsessing over weight—we are more likely to maintain our health and well-being in the long term.
When we frame health around weight loss, we set ourselves up for disappointment. If we don’t lose weight quickly, we may feel like failures and fall back into unhealthy habits. Worse, if we regain weight after successfully losing it, we often return to those bad habits and end up in a worse position than where we started. Instead of tying health and happiness to a particular body size, we should focus on habits that make us feel good—both physically and mentally.
Building a healthy, sustainable lifestyle means loving and respecting your body as it is today. It means creating habits that prioritise feeling good, rather than chasing an elusive number on the scale. It means recognising that weight is not the ultimate marker of health. So, the next time you decide to get healthier and happier, take weight and body size out of the equation.
Focus on feeling good, engaging in meaningful activities, building relationships that support your growth, and setting goals that leave you feeling accomplished. Prioritise good exercise, good nutrition, good stress management, good sleep, and a positive mindset. In the world of positive psychology, this approach is called the PERMA-H model of well-being, which emphasises Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Achievement, and Health.
If you’re ready to break free from the harmful diet culture and focus on long-term growth, well-being, and health, send me a message. Let’s explore how I can help you achieve a healthier, happier life—no scale required.
You can visit my page and email me HERE – can’t wait to chat with you!
