After my rape my weight was all over, due to being so nauseous for a while afterwards I lost lots of weight I remember I had got down to 91lbs during the months afterward, then months later I began binge eating on sweets and I gained some noticeable weight.
Yes, weight changes (either gain or loss) are very common after a rape or sexual assault. It’s part of how the body and mind respond to trauma. Here’s why this can happen:

🧠 Emotional & Psychological Effects

• Stress hormones (like cortisol) surge after trauma, and if the stress stays chronic, it can lead to weight gain—especially around the stomach.
• On the other hand, high anxiety, depression, or PTSD can suppress appetite, causing weight loss.
• Some survivors subconsciously change their body shape or size as a form of protection—wanting to appear less noticeable, less “attractive,” or simply trying to feel safe in their body again.

⚙️ Physical and Hormonal Changes

• Trauma disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which controls hunger, metabolism, and hormones.
• Sleep problems, nightmares, or insomnia (common after assault) can also change metabolism and appetite regulation.

🍽️ Coping Mechanisms

• Some survivors turn to food for comfort or control, leading to emotional eating.
• Others lose interest in eating due to depression or anxiety.

❤️ It’s Not Your Fault

Whatever your body is doing — gaining, losing, or fluctuating — it’s a normal trauma response, not a sign of weakness or failure. Healing emotionally often helps the body stabilize over time.

If you’re struggling with these fluctuations or how they make you feel, trauma-informed therapists or nutritionists can help you reconnect to your body in a safe way.