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Being obese can also affect your daily life and how you feel about yourself.^{1 2}

Many people who are obese say they aren't happy with their bodies and feel life is harder because of their size. These negative feelings make it harder to summon up the will to lose weight. Eating is comforting, so feeling this way can lead to eating even more.¹

People deal with their size in different ways. But even people with a "strong character" can find it painful if they feel they don't conform to the "right" look.

• Life can be difficult in practical ways. It can be hard to find clothes that fit, for example. And seats are often not designed for larger body sizes.
• You may also find it uncomfortabl e or even painful to do everyday things such as driving, walking, climbing stairs or carrying groceries.
• Many people with obesity say they feel bad about themselves. They don't like the way they look. They may not give themselves credit for the good things they've done. Or they may feel worthless. This is called low self-esteem. Other people feel ashamed or guilty.
• You may be more likely to suffer from mental health problems such as depression or anxiety disorder. You may also have a condition called binge eating disorder, when you eat more at once than most people would.
• Feeling bad can affect your social life or your work. For example, you may not feel able to make friends, go to college or even go shopping. Perhaps you don't apply for jobs because you don't think you'll be good enough to get one.
• Other people can make life harder. In a perfect world, nobody would be judged by how they look. But people often have set ideas about what overweight people are like and why they "allowed" themselves to put on so much weight. Other people may think you are greedy, sloppy or lazy.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.