Psychological aspects of obesity

Overview

Obesity is a metabolic disorder conditioned by several factors with the individual genetic proneness to accumulation of body fat with a positive energetic balance. If such definition describes the essential nature of obesity aptly, the treatment thereof ought to be the realm of somatic medicine and somatically oriented physicians, which is, unfortunately, frequently the case. Yet, not only being a disorder concerning improper body composition, but also a difference in cognitive processes and emotions of the obese, obesity needs to be considered in a more complex manner. The life of the obese consists of periods of strict, starvation diets on one hand and total loss of control and excessive calorie intake. Therefore, the corresponding therapy also needs to be provided in a more complex fashion, i.e. it is not solely the somatic disorder that should be addressed, but also the emotions and cognitions which induce the undesirable behaviour.

Generally, it is possible to summarise that cognition and emotions are likely to be anticipated, directed and controlled by affecting the stimuli promoting the erratic attitude. Thanks to the achievements which relate not only to loss of weight, but also to higher self-esteem, more gratifying feelings aroused by the patient’s self, improvement of both physical and mental conditions and enhancement of the quality of life as a whole, the new behaviour patterns are established, strengthened and sustained on a long-term basis. Several psychotherapeutic attitudes/methods may be used with cognitive-behavioral therapy, existential therapy and, recently, psychodynamic approach. The psychologist’s role is essential and fundamental in both conservative and the metabolic-bariatric treatment of obesity. The most common character traits of obese patients include predominantly neuroticism, which comprises anxiety, depressions, impulsiveness, anger and hostility.

Likewise, obesity is often suffered from by children and adolescents and its treatment relies on, in like manner as with adults, an active change of unsuitable dietary and movement habits with the family of the patient and their motivation of the patient to make the desirable change. It needs to be noted, however, that except for the changes in lifestyle, treatment of psychological difficulties accompanying obesity is a part of psychotherapy of such a group of young and adolescent patients.

Keywords:

obesity – overweight – psychotherapy – Motivation – cognitive-behavioral approach – existential psychotherapy – psychodynamic approach – Personality traits – child psychotherapy