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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Tobi Thomas

Past obesity can have lasting effects on mental health, study finds

Sad woman.
Previous studies found that people who were previously obese still feared being stigmatised after losing weight. Photograph: Tero Vesalainen/Alamy

Previously obese people who slim down to a healthy weight still have a heightened risk of dying early as they are more likely to struggle with their mental health, research suggests.

The study tests the “weight scarring” hypothesis, which theorises that past obesity can leave a negative legacy on a person’s current psychological wellbeing. That can bring about meaningful health consequences such as depression and anxiety.

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