Supporting people living with obesity

Whether you’re a parent, friend, family member or caregiver, you have an important role to play in your loved ones’ weight management journey. 

Support for people living with obesity takes many forms and there are different methods you can use to help encourage long-term changes and healthier habits.

For many people trying to manage weight, the process is not straightforward. If you can provide support to the people in your life living with obesity, you can help them stick to their resolutions and find the help they need.

If you’re asking questions like, "My daughter is living with obesity—what can I do?" or "My husband is living with obesity—how can I help him?" these tips can help you to help the people in your life living with obesity.

Take a look at these strategies to help you support the people in your life who are living with obesity in the best way possible.

The role of a support person can make a big difference in someone’s weight management journey. Strong social support networks are a key factor in staying committed to weight management habits in the long term.

If you’re reading up on how to support people living with obesity, you’re already on the right path. You’re taking an active interest in their weight management journey and you’re ready to be an ally for someone living with obesity. 

Sometimes, all people need is to hear that they have the support of the people around them. Research has found that for people living with obesity, making a social contract—telling family and friends about their weight loss goals—can help with cravings. This commitment to the people they care about could help people living with obesity to be determined in their weight management goals.

If you can take an active part in the weight management program for people living with obesity, you could help them commit to their goals in the long term.

Many people living with obesity, as well as the people supporting them, can become fixated on weight loss. To make long-lasting lifestyle changes, positive actions may be more effective than restrictive ones.

If you’re supporting someone in your family living with obesity, you can help by making your home a healthier environment. Strategies like making fresh fruit and vegetables readily available at home and planning and preparing healthy food in advance can help support your loved ones’ weight management goals.

Research has also found that family support for increased physical activity can make behaviour changes easier for people living with obesity. When one family member becomes more physically active, others might follow and start doing more physical activity themselves.

This can bring about a whole range of positive changes including:

• Spending more time together doing physical activity 

• Improvements in your relationship

• Greater enjoyment of your time together

• Long-lasting healthy habits based on physical activity

By focusing on health and enjoyment rather than just weight loss, you could help to make positive progress in both your relationships and your loved ones’ weight management journey.

Taking an active role in someone’s weight loss journey involves providing emotional support too.

Being a supportive, positive force can include:

• Showing greater empathy to people living with obesity

• Helping them with their weight loss motivation

• Offering gentle guidance

• Assisting them in finding their own weight loss solutions

To better support people living with obesity, listen to their needs and what they require from you. This can help them manage stress and improve their self-esteem while also making the weight management process easier.

When you’re supporting people with obesity and trying to help them on their weight management journey, there are some key things to remember. Check out these 3 important tips.  
 

Obesity is a stigmatized disease and people living with obesity may face judgement and discrimination in many areas of their lives. If you’re looking for ways to support people living with obesity, focus on words of encouragement rather than judgment.

Evidence suggests that supporting people by giving unwanted advice or minimizing the problems of the person living with obesity can do more harm than good. In fact, 81% of participants in a weight loss study reported that what they needed was for their significant others to accept them at their current weight, while also gently encouraging their weight management efforts/process.

Some ideas for positive encouragement and support include:

• Offering affirmation and motivation centred on their healthy efforts, e.g. “I know you’ve been working hard”

• Finding new activities, such as suggesting a gentler water aerobics class instead of a high-intensity exercise class

If you can prioritize positive encouragement over judgement, you can help your loved ones be more successful with their weight management goals.

When you’re supporting a person living with obesity, it can be really helpful to reinforce their healthy lifestyle changes with your own actions. This might include doing more physical activity and making healthier food choices.

For many people living with obesity, it can feel good to have a support person who joins them on their weight management journey. For instance, you might try to avoid bringing unhealthy snacks into the house to help reduce temptations or partaking in physical activity with them, like going for a walk.

To make your loved one’s weight management journey easier, try to reinforce healthy habits by adopting them yourself. They might also benefit your health too!

Everyone’s weight management journey is different. Research shows that the most effective social support for people living with obesity is one that fits the specific needs of the person.

When you’re supporting someone living with obesity, remember that weight regain is common. Around one-third to one-half of lost weight is regained within one year after stopping weight loss-centred interventions. Try not to feel frustrated or disheartened and remind yourself that a regain is not a reason to give up. There are many reasons for weight regain that are beyond your control, like genetics, your hormones and metabolism, or how the body regulates feelings of hunger and fullness.

If you feel like the person or people you’re supporting needs more help, you could suggest they visit a healthcare professional specializing in obesity and weight management. An obesity care provider can offer advice, information and a personalized strategy for sustained weight management.

If you’re looking for ways to support people living with obesity in your life, try to focus on positive actions and encouragement. You can also support them by referring them to trained obesity care providers so that they get the help they need. Everyone’s weight management journey is unique but with the support of family, friends and caregivers, people living with obesity can take steps to manage their weight for the long term.