There are many things that affect your ability to maintain a healthy weight, but have you considered the impact that big life events can have? People are always looking at their diet and exercise routine, but serious things like the loss of a loved one have a big role to play, too.
Losing somebody close to us has a huge impact on our mental health, and losing and gaining weight is often more about the mind than it is about the body. When you are working through grief, your body undergoes a lot of physical changes and this can have a big impact on your appetite. Understanding how grief can affect your weight is important if you are going to be able to look after your health.
How Does Grief Affect Weight?
Many people find that their appetite disappears when they are grieving for a loved one. In the early stages of loss, people often experience numbness, during which they forget to eat or they simply don’t because of their waning appetite. It’s very common for people to lose quite a lot of weight in a short period of time after losing somebody close to them.
Once people get over that initial grief phase, they are thrown into a very stressful period. They are forced to deal with the nitty-gritty of funeral arrangements and choosing a headstone for their loved one. Overeating is a common coping mechanism when people are under intense amounts of pressure, so it’s common for people to start putting weight back on after losing it.
The long-term mental health effects of grief have an impact on appetite too, and it varies depending on the person. Some people will overeat as a coping mechanism but it’s equally common for people to neglect all of their basic care needs on a daily basis.
Eventually, people’s appetite returns to normal once they have moved past their grief and their mental health has recovered. However, some people experience long-term effects and it makes it difficult for them to maintain a healthy weight.
How Can You Manage Your Weight While Grieving?
If you want to manage your weight while you are grieving, it is important to prioritize your health. When you lose your appetite, it’s tough to keep up with your normal diet but you should make an effort to set aside time to eat.
If you are concerned about overeating, make an effort to buy and prepare healthy foods. Finding ways to manage stress effectively is also vital because you will find yourself under a lot of pressure. If you can stay on top of your stress levels, you will find it easier to manage your overeating and maintain a healthy weight.
When you lose a loved one, your diet is probably the last thing on your mind. However, it’s very common for people to experience weight issues, so it’s important that you pay attention to it.
