We often avoid talking about it, out of fear that we would be offending somebody, but the truth is being overweight can have quite the toll on a person.
Take it from someone who has been obese their whole life: 26-year-old Jeffrey Kendall.
The Connecticut man has been overweight for as long as he could remember, and it wasn't because of the lack of trying that he couldn't maintain a healthy weight.
"I've lived my life with body-image and confidence issues," Jeffrey wrote on Lovewhatmatters.com. "I started my first efforts towards weight loss when I was 12. Throughout my life, I've gained and lost weight..."
Then two years ago, Jeffrey was forced to move in with his mother so he can help take care of her after she suffered a traumatic brain injury.
That was also the moment he hit his lowest point.
"I was in a long-running battle with self-image and depression."
He was not only overweight, he was also unemployed and very depressed.
"My mother was being released from rehab hospitals back to her home after seven months away; she wasn't better but she had plateaued and that's where the insurance ends," Jeffrey told Best Life. "Looking at myself at the time, I was in a long-running battle with self-image and depression."
Jeffrey struggled to find the motivation to do anything. He recalled lying in bed one night thinking about how "far I've slipped and how impossible it would be to get back."
Luckily, it wasn't long after that he received the wake up call he needed: his mother no longer recognized him.
"To see her stare without the longing of a mother was heart wrenching," he wrote. "It put a world of self-pity and pain in perspective to me."
Jeffrey started to make some small changes to his diet and lifestyle, then things really took off when his friend, who had just broken up with his girlfriend, asked to be his gym buddy, so they could motivate each other.
"It was a perfect reason for me to start something new as I felt a new appreciation for life after that summer," he wrote. "We started out small, a light barbell workout and agreed to do push-ups every day. Soon I was waking up and going for walks while listening to uplifting music."
"I'm so appreciative to once again see that sparkle in her eye."
While working out with his friend helped Jeffrey succeed, it was his mother who really inspired him to continue on this journey.
He revealed that as the pounds started to come off, his mother started to recognize him "more and more, and I'm so appreciative to once again see that sparkle in her eye."
He added: "Being home helping with my mother has been a huge help and motivator for me as well. She's the toughest person I know and gives me a constant appreciation for life. She's always telling me to take a day off and I love her so much for it. At the end of the day, I just want to make her proud."
Jeffrey noticed that his happiness and confidence grew as he continued to slim down.
He then found YouTube to be a great source for free workout and advice videos, and he took full advantage of that.
"I found YouTube channels like "˜Yoga with Adriene' to help fill those times when I wanted a workout at home. I began doing yoga and working out almost every day."
It took some time, but with the right motivation and support from family and friends, Jeffrey has transformed into a new man.
He recently shared his progress photos on Reddit and people are comparing his good looks to that of a Disney prince.
"A real life Disney prince"
When Jeffrey started to feel his motivation stalling, he took to Reddit to share photos of his new look, and asked users to rate him.
"I've lost a lot of weight, a lot of sadness, and a little facial hair. I've gained a whole new appreciation for life. Remember to always love yourself," he captioned the before-and-after photos.
The 26-year-old, who is now 70 pounds lighter, said he "was astounded by some of the positivity" and it has inspired him to keep putting "an effort into myself."
"The comments were all so uplifting and inspiring. Many called me a real life Disney Prince, the highest compliment of them all."
The ego-boost he received from people all over the world has not only pushed Jeffrey to work harder on his fitness, he is now considering a career in the fashion or entertainment industry.
"It's made me choose to chase a dream of becoming a model or maybe an actor one day."
He also has another life goal: "to simply be loved."
Jeffrey says he isn't "entirely sure what that means just yet, but I hope to find out."
Jeffrey might have lost a lot of weight, but it's what he gained that he's really cherished.
"It feels good to see rewards from what's been years of work, really," he told Best Life. "I've had long-running battles with confidence and self-worth and these things don't magically go away, but I feel like I can at least hold my head up and be equal to the person across from me," he said.
Hopefully, we will one day see Jeffrey in magazines, on the runway, or maybe even in a movie as a prince. He definitely has the look.
What do you think of Jeffrey's transformation?
