Fears and Doubts About Losing Weight

By Shawn Stevenson, DO, FACS – Chief of Bariatric and Foregut Surgery, Dignity Health

Many of the patients I meet come in carrying more than just concerns about their weight. They carry fear, doubt, frustration, and sometimes a deep sense of disappointment from things they’ve tried before.

If you’re feeling hesitant about starting a weight-loss journey, you’re not alone. In fact, those feelings are incredibly common and completely understandable.

“What if I fail again?”

This is one of the most common fears I hear.

Many patients have tried diets, programs, medications, or plans that worked briefly and then stopped working. Over time, that experience can make weight loss feel like a personal failure, even when the effort was real.

What I want patients to understand is this: weight loss is not a test of willpower. It’s influenced by biology, hormones, metabolism, and how your body responds to food and stress. When past attempts didn’t last, that doesn’t mean you failed. It means the approach didn’t match what your body needed.

“What if this is too hard?”

Weight loss can feel overwhelming, especially when people think they have to change everything at once. That fear often stops people before they even begin.

A good plan doesn’t require perfection. It focuses on realistic steps, taken in the right order, with support along the way. No one should feel like they’re being asked to do this alone or all at once.

Progress happens one step at a time.

“What if I can’t keep the weight off?”

This is a very real concern, and it’s one I take seriously.

Long-term success isn’t about short-term weight loss. It’s about durability. That’s why the focus is always on creating a plan that supports your body’s biology instead of fighting against it. Medical guidance, nutritional structure, behavioral support, and sometimes medication or surgery all exist for this reason: to help weight loss last.

Sustainable outcomes come from preparation and partnership, not quick fixes.

“What if medication or surgery feels like giving up?”

Some patients worry that using medication or considering surgery means they’ve failed or taken the “easy way out.”

I don’t see it that way.

Medications like GLP-1 therapies and bariatric surgery are medical tools, not shortcuts. They exist because we understand more about how the body regulates weight than we did in the past. For the right patient, they can help address biological factors that make weight loss incredibly difficult through lifestyle changes alone.

Using the right tool at the right time is not giving up. It’s being thoughtful about your health.

“What if I’m judged?”

Fear of judgment keeps many people from seeking help. I want to be very clear about this: my role is not to judge. It’s to listen, understand, and help you make informed decisions about your health. This is one reason we offer both online and in-person support groups, so you can connect with people who share similar fears and experiences.

Weight is a medical issue, not a character flaw. Every patient deserves respect, compassion, and honest guidance.

Moving Forward With Confidence

It’s okay to have doubts. It’s okay to feel uncertain. What matters is having a conversation that’s grounded in facts, compassion, and realistic expectations.

Weight loss doesn’t have to start with a big decision. Sometimes it starts with simply understanding your options and realizing that you don’t have to do this alone.

The Bottom Line

Fear and doubt are not signs that you shouldn’t try. They’re signs that you care about your health and want to make the right choice.

A thoughtful weight-loss plan meets you where you are, respects your experience, and focuses on long-term success, not quick wins.

And with the right support, those fears don’t have to define the journey ahead.