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5 Ways to Keep Loneliness From Impacting Your Weight-Loss Goals

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5 Ways to Keep Loneliness From Impacting Your Weight-Loss Goals

We know loneliness is bad for your health. Social isolation (the term researchers use for loneliness) is associatedĀ with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, not to mention an overall increased risk of premature death. Put simply: social connection is a crucial element of wellness.

Thatā€™s part of what makes the isolation many are experiencing due to the pandemic so difficult. But not everyone who is self-isolating will become truly lonely, points out Keri Kirk, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist. Yet loneliness is definitely on the rise in COVID times, surveysĀ suggest.

Itā€™s a problem because we know loneliness can activate dysfunction in several systems in our bodies, including our immune system, Kirk says. One UCLA studyĀ found loneliness triggers the immune system in a way that activates inflammatory biomarkers. ā€œInflammation has been found to be a key factor in chronic diseases like heart disease, various cancers, and things like asthma,ā€ Kirk explains. ā€œSo essentially, chronic loneliness can take a similar toll on our health as a chronic disease.ā€

HOW LONELINESS IMPACTS WEIGHT LOSS

It could increase cravings and stress eating.Ā ā€œWorking in a weight-management clinic, emotional and stress eatingĀ related to loneliness and the stressors of isolation is something I see on a daily basis,ā€ says Kayla Girgen, RD. ā€œFood is often used as a coping mechanism to soothe negative emotions, but it only offers a temporary fix.ā€

Indeed, new researchĀ shows many people struggled with stress eating and weight gain during stay-at-home orders. These effects were disproportionately seen in people with obesity. Part of the reason for that could be the stress and negative mental health effects of social isolation, researchers said.

Accountability could go out the window.Ā ā€œFor health-related behaviors, includingĀ weight maintenanceĀ andĀ eating behaviors, accountability structuresĀ can make or break success,ā€ Kirk explains. And for many people, the pandemic means our social networks and support systems have been out of whack. That may have impacted pre-existing accountability structures, such as meeting up with gym buddies or regular doctor or nutrition coaching appointments. ā€œWith disruptions in those networks, it can be easy to slide back toward less-than-optimal eating habits,ā€ Kirk adds.

Your goals may feel more challenging and less important.Ā ā€œPeople experiencing loneliness may pull away from other healthy behaviors, or feel like those activities simply feel more difficult,ā€ notes Erin Wagner, RD. For instance, maybeĀ meal preppingĀ just doesnā€™t feel doable anymore. This can be a tough cycle once you’re in it: You don’t feel as healthy because you’re lonely, but then the loneliness is associated with doing less of what makes you feel healthy. ā€œIn short: Being lonely makes other health goals, including weight loss, feel harder or less important.ā€

Plus,Ā motivation may waneĀ when some of the anticipated rewards of weight loss no longer feel relevant. For example, not being able to shop for new clothing or having limited face-to-face interactions where your progress might be noticed by others may be demotivating for some people, says Girgen.

Lack of motivation may mean old habits might creep back.Ā ā€œPeople who are lonely tend to have lower perceptions ofĀ self-efficacy and motivation,ā€ Wagner explains. ā€Missing out on social contact may correlate with feeling a loss of confidence you get from those who are your support system.ā€

ā€œWithout the support of people who matter to us, sometimes we donā€™t realize when weā€™re engaging or re-engaging in habits that are not so good for us,ā€ Kirk says. Feeling lonely can increase stress, leading us to reach for foods we find comforting to cope. ā€œFeeling lonely can also impact motivation to exercise or practice other centering behaviors like mindfulness or meditation.ā€

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING WITH LONELINESS

Itā€™s not always easy to determine whether youā€™re simply isolated or if youā€™re experiencing true loneliness. One big sign is feeling like youā€™re not getting enough social connection in your life, Kirk says. But there are other signals. ā€œGiven that loneliness can make symptoms of other physical and mental health conditions worse, it’s important to pay attention to your body and any changes that you’ve noticed over time,ā€ says Kirk. ā€œFor example, loneliness can highlight symptoms of depressionĀ ā€” even in people who have never been diagnosed before ā€” which can include low mood, lack of interest in enjoyable activities, changes in appetite or sleep and fatigue.ā€ In short, if you’re noticing changes in your mood combined with a lack of satisfaction in your social environment, you may be feeling the effects of loneliness, according to Kirk.

If you need something more concrete, ask yourself some simple reflection questions to gauge your current situation, Wagner suggests. This could be something like: On a scale of 1ā€“10, where am I right now with myā€¦

  • Social life?
  • Energy?
  • Fitness?
  • Nutrition?
  • Mental health?

Starting with basic questions like these helps to provide insight and leads to more in-depth reflection, Wagner says.

HOW TO COPE WITH LONELINESS

Speaking with a healthcare professional who can give you personalized advice is always a great place to start, but you can also try implementing these strategies:

TALK ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE DIFFERENT

Pretending like nothing has changed can make it harder to adjust to a new reality.Ā ā€œIt’s important to talk about change and normalize the discussion around it during a pandemic, whether thatā€™s life changes, work changes or body and mind changes,ā€ Kirk says. ā€œTalking about change and potential solutions can help you feel more at ease with the unexpected transitions.ā€

If youā€™re dealing with loneliness, sharing that with others can help. ā€œIā€™ve noticed clients are more open to saying that loneliness is something theyā€™re struggling with overall,ā€ Wagner says. ā€œI think normalizing how we all get lonely makes others feel like they can talk openly about it without judgment.ā€ Whatā€™s more,Ā sharing your goals with othersĀ could help you lose weight faster.

FIND HEALTHY DISTRACTIONS

If youā€™re struggling withĀ food cravingsĀ andĀ stress eating, consider engaging in activities that can distract from the cravings, like taking a walk,Ā reading a book, orĀ listening to a funny or suspenseful podcast, suggests Kirk. ā€œMore importantly, to combat a sense of loneliness, you want to go toward a sense of connection. So, in addition to taking that walk,Ā talk to a friend or call a loved one while youā€™re getting those steps in.ā€

If youā€™re feeling Zoom fatigue, consider sending letters to friends and family via snail mail. ā€œWriting can be therapeutic and a way to connect on your own time,ā€ Wagner says. Better yet: ā€œFostering an animal can be a positive way to volunteerĀ andĀ have snuggle time in the comfort of your own home.ā€ Bonus: AĀ dog can be a great training partnerĀ to support your weight loss.

CONSIDER WHAT YOU REALLY NEED

Before turning to food to deal with negative emotions, it can help to ask yourself: What is one thing I could do now that would make me feel better? ā€œThis may be as simple as reading an article, listening to your favorite song, reaching out to a friend or taking a warm bath,ā€ Wagner says. What you really needĀ couldĀ be a cupcake (and itā€™s best not to make any foods totally off-limits), but you may find that other things help, too, which make you feel like youā€™re back in control. ā€œOften, taking that first action step can helpĀ boost confidenceĀ in your ability to take other positive steps,ā€ Wagner says.

SWITCH THINGS UP

ā€œWe can become physically stagnant when weā€™re homebound,ā€ Girgen points out. ā€œKeep up with your usual hygiene routine and be sure toĀ swap your yoga or sweat pants for jeans or dress pantsĀ every once in a while.ā€ If you normally spent time commuting, for example, instead of opening your computer to work the second you wake up, try spending a few minutes creating a new healthy habit likeĀ meditatingĀ or writing down what youā€™re grateful for.

CONNECT TO YOUR “WHY”

ā€œIt’s important to have aĀ purpose when establishing health goals,ā€ notes Erin Kenney, RD, LDN. Ideally, this purpose goes deep. ā€œIf your goal is to lose weight and you focus on aĀ number on the scale,Ā this can become discouraging and increase anxiety,ā€ Kenny says. ā€œFocus on tuning in to how you feel looking at measures like digestion, energy, mood andĀ being creative in the kitchen.ā€

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