02/03/2010
Celebrity mothers give unrealistic images of weight loss post-pregnancy
by William Hobson
Women feel too much pressure to lose weight rapidly after giving birth because of coverage of celebrity mothers, warns the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
NICE, the NHS advisory organisation, says that coverage of celebrities undergoing massive weight loss just weeks after giving birth was creating unhealthy expectations in new mothers regarding their own weight loss. NICE's latest draft guidance for new mothers says that new mothers should understand that healthy weight loss takes time and that coverage of celebrities created an idea of "unrealistic rapid weight loss" and put women under pressure at an already stressful time.
The document emphasises the importance of a health weight both before and after pregnancy to avoid complications and to ensure that women have enough energy to look after their baby.
Reporting on the publication, The Daily Telegraph cited the examples of actresses Halle Berry and Jennifer Lopez, or supermodel Heidi Klum who was back to modelling lingerie just eight weeks after the birth of her second child.
However, few women are likely to have the same resources as these celebrities; access to at-home gyms, domestic help with cooking and cleaning, constant advice from a nutritionist and no demands on their time from work.
NICE believes that in attempting to get the same results, many women resort to crash-dieting and other unhealthy forms of weight loss. Hypnotherapy sessions could help women attempting to emulate celebrity mothers by helping them adopt a healthy diet and mindset whilst under the stress of new motherhood, as well as helping them to overcome jealousy of celebrity figures.
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