A recent study showed that women who are trying to lose weight have a greater success doing so if they have a positive self-image. While all the participants went through basic dieting and weight management techniques, women who also received training on self-image lost three times as much weight as their peers.
Caring.com senior editor Paula Spencer Scott writes that this could be an effective and helpful way for family caregivers to lose weight, too.
"Caregiving and weight gain go together like cookies and milk – or should I say, like worry and mindless munching, or like isolation and lack of exercise? Even sleep deprivation – another common condition of caregiving – can add pounds because it increases levels of a hunger hormone that normally makes you feel full," she explained.
But with just a little positive reinforcement, it seems that caregivers can conquer their weight issues more effectively.
To reduce the burden even more, families may want to consider hiring home care assistants who can tend to a loved one's needs. This can free up time for personal leisure or exercise.