Psychology Facts

▲ Obesophobia ▲

》Obesophobia, also called pocrescophobia, is the fear of gaining weight. It's most prevalent in adolescent women, but men can have it too.

》The symptoms of obesophobia involve negative emotions when thinking or talking about weight gain. They can include:

an intense, overwhelming fear
anxiety
stress
panic attacks
high blood pressure
dizziness

》People with obesophobia can become underweight or malnourished. But the fear still makes them obsess over the possibility of gaining weight. A person with obesophobia may understand that the fear is irrational but not be able to control it.

》Obesophobia can also lead to other mental health disorders, such as:

Body dysmorphic disorder.
Depression.
Eating disorders.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder.

》Obesophobia doesn't have a clear cause. It's likely due to several factors, including:

Weight stigma - Weight stigma generally discriminates against people with overweight or obesity. As a result, it can cause certain individuals to develop a fear of gaining weight.

Perfectionism - Perfectionism, like weight sigma, may be related to pressure from friends and family. Some individuals might also have a genetic tendency for perfectionism.

Anxiety disorders - obesophobia might stem from social anxiety disorder, which involves a fear of social rejection.

Personal experiences - you've been teased for your weight or appearance, you may associate weight gain with negative judgment.

》Obesophobia and eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are related. They cause some of the same behaviors. They often occur together.
But eating disorders are more severe and complex. They involve a distorted view of one's own body. A person with anorexia or bulimia might be abnormally thin but still think they're overweight when they look in the mirror.

》Also, eating disorders aren't always related to body weight. Someone with an eating disorder may use the behaviors to cope or gain a sense of control. Some may have unresolved emotional issues. Obesophobia is strictly about the fear of gaining weight or becoming overweight.

》Obesophobia could also make you do certain things to avoid gaining weight, such as:

fasting

obsessively counting calories

exercising too much

frequent dieting

》If obesophobia is affecting your daily life, you should talk to a medical professional. See a doctor if you have the following symptoms:

intense anxiety when thinking about weight gain

obsession with weight loss

frequent dieting

avoiding social activities with food

negative body image

》People with obesophobia should talk to a healthcare provider to ensure they manage their anxiety and prevent other disorders. Possible treatments include:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is structured psychotherapy that can help a person understand and control thoughts and emotions.

Hypnotherapy: Hypnotherapy can put a person in a trance-like but focused state.

Medications: A variety of anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications can lessen the symptoms of anxiety or depression if they interfere with your life. But medications are not a cure for obesophobia.

Exposure therapy: Exposure therapy, sometimes called desensitization, helps people confront their fears gradually. Your therapist might gradually expose you to the idea of eating well or gaining appropriate weight to be healthy in a controlled environment.

》You should also seek medical help if you're:

restricting food intake

obsessively counting calories

exercising too much

vomiting on purpose

These symptoms could indicate that
obesophobia has led to an eating disorder.