Being proud about weight loss may play a role in eating disorders like anorexia nervosa. The condition has a death rate 12 times higher for young women between the ages of 15 and 24 than all other causes of death combined.
For a study, researchers measured over a two-week period the emotional states of 118 women between the ages of 18 to 58 being treated for anorexia nervosa. Those in the study not only suffered from negative emotions, but also felt emotionally positive, having a sense of pride over being able to maintain and exceed their weight-loss goals.
This link between positive emotions and weight-loss behaviors turns into a vicious cycle for some women.
