Reaching your goal weight makes most people feel great, but according to MSNBC, some people have a hard time shedding their “fat” self-image. Take Kelly Lynn Hicks. She’s gone from a size 24 to a tiny size 4 - but she still worries she won’t fit into chairs. When she goes shopping, she’s afraid she’s so wide that she’ll bump into a shelf and break something. That happened a few years ago when she was overweight. She accidentally knocked over and broke a figurine and had to pay $60 for it. Every morning when she looks in the mirror, she sees her former, heavier self. According to Hicks, her brain says, “Yep, still fat.”
Joshua Hrabosky is a psychologist at Rhode Island Hospital who counsels obese people undergoing bariatric surgery. He refers to this phenomenon as “phantom fat.” It’s like the concept of a phantom limb, in which people who’ve lost an arm or leg feel like it’s still there - even causing them pain or itching. People who were formerly overweight often carry an internal “fat” image with them after they lose weight. They literally feel as if they’re still in a large body. There are several reasons some people experience “phantom fat.”
For some, their brain hasn’t “caught up” with the new, leaner body. This is usually the case for people who were obese for many years and then experienced rapid weight loss. Another contributing factor - especially for yo-yo dieters - is the fear of regaining the weight. Some people don’t allow themselves to get used to their new, slimmer size, because they worry it won’t last. Hrabosky says people who undergo major weight loss are more preoccupied with appearance than someone who was never overweight. Some people adjust naturally and quickly to the weight loss, but for others – it takes time. So if you’ve recently lost weight and you still feel fat, don’t be surprised - it’s normal. However, if you experience significant distress, sadness or depression – that’s when it’s time to call your doctor and get help.
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