There are lots of things that can contribute to changes in your weight, including some things that you did not choose and others that are linked to your everyday habits.
As detailed by NHS Inform, examples of factors that may influence our weight but are not in our control:
- age
- income
- where we live
- access to services
- medication
- family history
- genetics
- weight history
- medical history
- illness
- trauma
Examples of lifestyle factors that may influence our weight and that we may be able to try to change (possibly with further support if needed):
- what and how much we eat and drink
- our physical activity levels
- sleep
- stress levels
Whilst there is guidance on what is considered a healthy weight on average, it is difficult to know what each person’s ideal weight should be. Expectations about the weight, clothing size or body shape we believe we “should” have can often lead to unhelpful eating patterns, such as going for long periods of time without eating or avoiding certain foods, which can often make it harder to maintain a healthy weight in the long term.
To learn more about the general guidance regarding weight ranges, click on the “self-assess” tab on the main page here. From the main page, the other tabs will take you to further guidance on making lifestyle changes and suggested additional sources of support.
