My husband recently told me he no longer finds me attractive due to my weight gain. He said that because of it, he no longer considers me his wife and left our home. He said he couldn’t stay married to me because he's not physically attracted to me anymore.

While I can’t deny that I’ve gained weight, it wasn’t a conscious choice. After having children, my body changed dramatically. Then I faced several long-term health challenges that made it hard to stay active or even travel. The medications I had to take also contributed to my weight gain. I’ve tried dieting and exercising, but my body hasn’t responded the way I hoped. Though I’m now able to move more freely and endure longer activities, my weight still hasn’t budged. I tried to lose weight, but it caused serious stomach problems, so I had to stop.

What hurts the most is that through all this, I’ve never stopped loving him. He’s been going through his own changes too—losing hair, aging, and developing health issues—but I still find him attractive. I believe that love goes deeper than physical appearance. Friends have suggested medical procedures, but I don’t feel comfortable with them after hearing about complications and side effects some women experience.

Sadly, I feel that my husband has made me feel unattractive and unworthy of love. His emotional detachment has left me feeling like I’ve lost more than just my physical appearance. The emotional pain is something that many women in similar situations face, especially when their partners don’t offer support during life-changing experiences.

I wonder, is my husband justified in leaving because of my weight gain? Does physical attraction really outweigh the deeper commitment of marriage? And how do women like me cope with the rejection that comes after experiencing such drastic changes in life?