Why do I have an intense fear of gaining weight?

Do you experience negative emotions such as an intense, overwhelming fear when thinking or talking about weight gain, when you experience weight gain or are in situations that you associate with weight gain?

Do you experience negative emotions such as anxiety when thinking or talking about weight gain, when you experience weight gain or are in situations that you associate with weight gain?

Do you experience negative emotions such as stress when thinking or talking about weight gain, when you experience weight gain or are in situations that you associate with weight gain?

Do you experience negative emotions such as panic attacks when thinking or talking about weight gain, when you experience weight gain or are in situations that you associate with weight gain?

Do you experience negative emotions such as high blood pressure when thinking or talking about weight gain, when you experience weight gain or are in situations that you associate with weight gain?

Do you experience negative emotions such as dizziness when thinking or talking about weight gain, when you experience weight gain or are in situations that you associate with weight gain?

Do you avoid weight gain by fasting?

Do you avoid weight gain by obsessively counting calories?

Do you avoid weight gain by exercising too much?

Do you avoid weight gain by frequent dieting?

While it is unlikely that you have a significant problem with an intense fear of gaining weight, you may be displaying some signs related to it. It is normal to be concerned about our health and weight. However, if talking or thinking about gaining weight makes you feel intensively anxious, you may be dealing with obesophobia: an exaggerated fear of gaining weight. There are several causes for this disorder, such as weight stigma, suffering of other anxiety disorder, and personal experiences (such as being bullied for body weight). In case you answered ‘no’ to all questions, there is no need for concern.

Based on your answers, you are displaying some signs of an unhealthy obsession with body weight and food. If these symptoms affect your daily life, it may be important to talk with a doctor. Obesophobia is an anxiety disorder, in which a person has an intense and irrational fear of gaining weight. People who suffer from this disorder may do extreme things to avoid gaining weight, and this can eventually develop into an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia nervosa. If you are not sure about your symptoms, it may be important to talk to your doctor. You may not be diagnosed with a disorder, but you may need some advises to prevent your situation from worsening.

Unfortunately, you are displaying symptoms typically seen among individuals who have obesophobia: an intense fear of gaining weight in which people try to avoid weight through unhealthy behaviors, such as frequently dieting and exercising excessively. Obesophobia is closely related to eating disorders, so it is recommended to seek medical attention if you are showing several symptoms related to the disorder. Obesophobia is treated by a mental health professional and the goal is to manage your intense fear of gaining weight and to avoid developing an eating disorder. The most common treatment method is cognitive behavioral therapy.