Gain Self-esteem and Lose Weight
There Is A Connection Between Self-confidence and Weight-loss
May 7, 2008
A recent study conducted in Australia, by Queensland University of Technology nursing researcher Rhonda Anderson, points to women’s self-efficacy as one of the keys to controlling weight. After questioning 560 women between the ages of 51 and 66 about their exercise and eating habits, she found that although they made good choices at this stage in their lives, they had little experience to draw from. As women approach the half-century point, it seems this is where they have the hardest time controlling their weight, as demonstrated by the fact 2/3 of them were over-weight or obese. This is due not only to biological but social and educational reasons as well.
Biologically this is the age when women tend to gain more weight. Socially, raising a family and working, leads women to believe there is little time for implementing healthy lifestyle habits. They may feel guilty about taking time out for themselves. However, the women who had college educations were less likely to be overweight or obese.
Self-efficacy has a strong influence on women's decision to do more exercise or eat more healthily. Self-efficacy is basically self-determination or commitment to a specific goal regardless of the prevailing circumstances. The problem for these women was if their self-esteem was low due to poor body composition and non-adherence to healthy habits such as regular exercise and healthy eating habits, it was difficult to achieve fitness goals. This was replicated in other areas of their life as well. They would avoid difficult tasks and when things got tough they were more likely to give up. This created a catch-22; they were overweight and lacked self-efficacy so they failed to succeed and failure contributes to low self-esteem.
The solution then is education and activities. Women need to understand the significance of a healthy lifestyle earlier in life. Participating in physical activity and understanding what and also how much to consume are crucial to maintaining a healthy weight throughout life. “Carrying excess weight has been linked to diseases including diabetes, heart disease and breast cancer," Anderson said.
According to Anderson, although most of women in the study began to take up walking and reduce fat intake, women need specific education and support to be successful in improving their health and losing weight.
“One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.” –Lucille Ball-
