Shobhaa De’s Daughter Opens Up About Losing 40 Kilos and the Hidden Impact of High Cortisol
Shobhaa De's Daughter Opens Up About Losing 40 Kilos and the Hidden Impact of High Cortisol
Weight loss journeys are often deeply personal, filled with ups and downs, and no two stories are the same. Among the many inspiring transformations, Anandita De’s story stands out—not just because she’s the daughter of renowned columnist Shobhaa De, but because of the honesty and heart she brings to her experience.
In a candid Instagram post, Anandita opened up about how she lost 40 kilos and turned her life around in just seven and a half months. She shared both the physical and emotional hurdles she faced before starting her journey, and how consistent effort brought her back to health. She captioned one of her posts, “My cortisol levels were going through the roof. I could barely walk a few steps without getting out of breath, thankfully due to my DE-LY steps routine I walk at the speed of lightning today. Earlier I most certainly couldn’t climb stairs.”
Her post was accompanied by striking before-and-after pictures, giving a glimpse into the extent of her transformation. She went on to describe how her day-to-day life had been affected by her weight. “I could mark the huge difference in my speed of getting up and down without feeling as if I’ll have a cardiac arrest anytime there and then. Until I began my wellness journey I had severe sleep apnea, an insomniac. I would constantly have a persistent cough. Due to being diabetic I had developed skin tags and the colour of my complexion had become several shades darker than my original skin colour,” she shared.
But the transformation wasn’t just physical—it was deeply emotional and mental too. Anandita explained how balancing her cortisol levels brought a change in her personality. She expressed how she felt more patient and kind, even in stressful situations. She recalled becoming more sensitive and empathetic toward others, including a moment during a flight when she helped a fellow passenger by offering a medicine that wasn’t available on board. “More empathetic in nature,” she described herself, and also said she had become “more tolerant towards kids and babies.”
Her story also serves as a reminder of how weight gain affects overall health, often in ways we don’t immediately see. Excess weight can impact nearly every system in the body, particularly the heart. It raises the risk of conditions like high blood pressure, cholesterol issues, and even stroke. It also disrupts hormones like cortisol, creating a vicious cycle of stress and fat accumulation. On top of that, it can lead to fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, and low immunity.
But as Anandita’s journey shows, once you take that step toward wellness, everything begins to shift. Physically, everyday tasks like walking, climbing stairs, or simply breathing become easier. Mentally, confidence builds, mood improves, and the motivation to keep going grows stronger. It’s not just about looking different—it’s about feeling alive, present, and proud of the person you’re becoming.
Anandita’s transformation is a beautiful reminder that taking control of your health doesn’t just change your body—it changes your life.
