It's no secret that, if you need to lose weight, reaching your target weight can bring a confidence boost. But it's important to acknowledge the psychological pitfalls that can arise along the way.

Axar.az reports citing Patient.info that people who've lost a lot of weight, and kept it off, are almost universally praised in our society. Given how hard it can be to shed the pounds, anyone who has triumphed is held up as a worthy success story.

When people are feeling confident they can do anything - they change jobs, change how they dress - it's a whole series of changes in their life

"Benefits that can be observed include improved self-esteem, a more stable mood, improved body image and a general improvement in quality of life," says Dave Waller, lead eating disorder therapist at Life Works.

A decade down the line, Emma has maintained a healthy BMI but has been left with anxiety around food. She says she would have benefited from more support during her weight loss.