Shark Tank India Judge Kunal Bahl Opens Up About Lifelong Weight Struggles
Shark Tank India judge and prominent entrepreneur Kunal Bahl has candidly discussed his ongoing battle with weight issues, revealing deeply personal details about his journey. In a heartfelt conversation during the show's latest season, Bahl shared how weight has been a constant companion throughout his life, shaping his experiences and emotional landscape.
'I Was 118 kg in School': Bahl's Personal Revelation
"Main saari zindagi weight issues se deal karta aaraha hun. Jab main school me tha, 118 kg ka tha," Bahl revealed to one of the pitchers on Shark Tank India's episode 19. This translates to: "All my life, I have struggled with weight issues. I was 118 kg in school."
The entrepreneur expressed gratitude for maintaining his weight for 15-20 years, but emphasized the persistent nature of this challenge. "When you are overweight for so many years, there is a constant burden," Bahl explained, highlighting how weight struggles extend far beyond physical appearance to become an emotional and psychological load.
The Psychological Impact of Long-Term Weight Issues
Psychotherapist and life coach Delnna Rrajesh provided expert insight into why weight becomes what she describes as a "lifelong emotional burden." According to Delnna, when individuals speak about weight struggles spanning decades, they're not merely discussing numbers on a scale but addressing profound psychological impacts.
"Long-term weight issues shape identity, self-worth, social behaviour, confidence, and even how safe a person feels in their own body," Delnna emphasized. She described how people who grow up overweight often carry what she calls an "invisible backpack of experiences" that includes:
- Being watched and monitored by others
- Receiving unsolicited comments and advice
- Facing jokes and comparisons
- Experiencing silent judgment from peers and society
Delnna explained that over time, "the body stops being just a body. It becomes a public subject. And that creates a deep, ongoing mental pressure."
Understanding the 'Constant Burden' of Weight Struggles
The phrase "constant burden" that Bahl used holds particular significance according to psychological experts. Delnna elaborated that this burden extends beyond food choices or fitness routines to encompass what she calls "constant vigilance" and "self-monitoring."
"It is about constant awareness of how one looks, sits, walks, eats, speaks, and exists in space," Delnna noted. She further explained that "even after weight stabilises, the nervous system remembers years of threat, shame, and scrutiny," creating lasting psychological patterns that can persist long after physical changes occur.
The Complex Relationship with Food and Control
Another crucial dimension Delnna highlighted involves the relationship with control that develops over years of weight struggles. For individuals with long-term weight issues, food rarely remains simply nourishment.
"It becomes comfort, rebellion, reward, regulation, and sometimes the only place where agency is felt," Delnna described. This complexity explains why simplistic advice like "just eat less" or "be disciplined" often fails to address the underlying emotional dynamics.
The psychotherapist cautioned that "discipline without emotional healing often turns into punishment," emphasizing the need for a more nuanced approach to weight management that addresses psychological factors alongside physical ones.
Practical Approaches to Healing and Management
Delnna offered several evidence-based recommendations for individuals navigating long-term weight challenges:
- Separate body worth from performance: Recognize that your value isn't conditional on consistency or outcomes in weight management
- Work with the nervous system: Address chronic stress that keeps the body in storage mode rather than fighting against physiological responses
- Address shame before habits: Understand that shame blocks sustainable behavioral change and requires healing first
- Build identity beyond appearance: Create a meaningful life where physical appearance becomes just one aspect of identity
- Replace punishment-based routines with care-based rituals: Shift from self-critical approaches to compassionate self-care practices
Most importantly, Delnna emphasized that "maintaining your weight after years of struggle is not just a matter of discipline." She described it as "emotional labour" and "resilience" that represents "a lived experience" requiring acknowledgment and compassion.
The Broader Implications of Celebrity Disclosures
Kunal Bahl's openness about his weight struggles represents a significant moment in public discourse about body image and mental health. As a successful entrepreneur and television personality, his willingness to discuss such personal challenges helps destigmatize weight-related issues and encourages broader conversations about:
- The intersection of physical health and mental wellbeing
- The long-term psychological impacts of childhood weight issues
- The importance of addressing emotional factors in weight management
- The need for compassionate approaches to body image in professional and personal contexts
Bahl's revelation, combined with expert psychological insights, creates a powerful narrative about the complex relationship between weight, identity, and emotional health that resonates with many individuals facing similar challenges.
