Weight loss due to anxiety?

[daffodilrosedaisy]

Hi everyone,

Bit of a strange one here... last night for the first time in a long time I actually looked at myself properly in the mirror as I was getting into my PJs. Suddenly realised I’ve lost quite a bit of weight. Usually my pants dig into my hip fat a bit, and I put all of my weight on my tummy and hips - but this has more or less disappeared from my hips. I’ve never weighed myself regularly (haven’t in about 5 years) as my sibling went through a stage of worrying about her weight and I didn’t want to get obsessive. But I can really notice this difference just from the shape of my body (no more “love handles” although I hate that term).

My worry is that I haven’t been trying to lose weight... at all. At the moment I’m not really exercising at all, or eating very healthily (bad I know). The only thing I can think of is that my anxiety hasn’t been great recently, for the past 5 months or so I’ve had panic attacks and generally felt stressed and anxious, I know I’m tense as my shoulders/neck etc are always really tense, and I have had a few stressful events going on in addition (change of job, falling out with family member etc.). Does anyone else have experience of accidental weight loss because of this? Or should I be more worried and go to the doctors? I feel totally fine and healthy apart from my anxiety which I’ve had for over 6 years on and off.

Thanks for reading this far x

[daffodilrosedaisy]

bumping in the hope of a reply 😊

[user1471465525]

Yes for me anxiety and weigh loss go hand in hand. I eventually went to my doctor who recommended mirap for anxiety and insomnia. It can also help with weight gain if you feel you are losing it through stress.

[daffodilrosedaisy]

@user thanks so much for replying. It’s a relief to hear I’m not losing my mind, will keep an eye on myself but if I am worried I’m losing an unhealthy amount of weight I will deffo get my self down to the doctors thank you

[Marleyj8]

Not sure if you are still around @daffodilrosedaisy but just wanted to say I've had a similar situation. My anxiety has caused me to drop weight before, as well as after pregnancy. How are you now?

[Strictly1972]

Yes definitely when I’m anxious i lose weight. Hope you are okay.

[Marleyj8]

@Strictly1972 I struggle to gain back the weight I've lost. I'm a size 8 but normally around a 12..Anxiety has lot to answer for

[daffodilrosedaisy]

Thanks for checking in, yes my anxiety is a little bit better and I’m not losing weight so drastically though I still think I am a bit. Probably partly also from being so busy at work I keep forgetting to eat (rather than before when anxiety was awful and was eating normally yet losing weight). How are you both doing?

[NoSauce]

I would get it checked personally OP.

[daffodilrosedaisy]

Thanks @nosauce

[blackcat86]

I have found that I've lost weight when my anxiety is high but equally healthy eating and light exercise help my anxiety during these times so I probably try and look after myself more to even if not actively trying to lose weight IYSWIM. It can help to get it checked if you feel like it's a lot even only because I know I work myself up then thinking something more is wrong with me when it isnt. It's easy to underestimate the power of anxiety.

[Marleyj8]

@daffodilrosedaisy how is your weight now?
Hope you are OK.
I've lost 3lbs this week without trying, so annoying! Just so anxious which doesn't help.