ABSTRACT
Globally, people who successfully lost weight using weight loss interventions evaluated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) experienced no improvements in mental health, and no or modest benefits for physical health, compared with control participants who did not lose weight. In this chapter, several common obesity-associated chronic health concerns that may benefit from lifestyle modification are discussed, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease risk. A focus on physical health concerns in Accept Yourself! treatment necessarily involves discussing healthism, weight stigma, and the shame clients may feel about having a disease that is associated with obesity. There is no one healthful diet or healthful exercise regimen that clients should all implement in the Accept Yourself! framework, so to learn what is healthful for their bodies; clients need to develop their mindfulness, acceptance, and interoceptive awareness skills. Clinicians should also be careful to help and encourage clients to integrate health behavior change with non-stigmatizing medical care.
