OBESITY and MOOD

DISORDERS

The Obesity Epidemic

Obesity is Americas fastest growing health concern

According to the National Institute of Diabetes amp Digestive amp Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) over 60 of Americans are obese

Compared to 1991 statistics it has increased by about 33

The Obesity Epidemic

Eight out of ten people over 25 years of age in the US are overweight 75 are not meeting recommended basic activity level and 25 are completely inactive

Obesity in Iran The whole prevalence of abnormal

BMI was 733 Of these 441 were overweight

and 292 were obese Percentages for overweight were

82 and 632 for women and men respectively

Sarvghadi F Rambod M Hosseinpanah F Hedayati M Tohidi M Azizi F

Obesity Research Center Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran

Saudi Arabia The prevalence of obesity in Saudi

Arabia ranged from 14 in children under 6 years to about 83 in adults

Women were more prone to be overweight or obese than men

Factors associated with obesity were age sex socio-economic status employment education and parity

Khalid A Madani MPH DSc Bahrain Medical Bulletin Vol 22 No 3 Sep 2000

The burden of obesity ndash costly deadly

The financial burden of

obesity WHO data show that obesity accounts for 5-10 of the

total health care budget in several developed countries

This is probably a low estimate as not all of the cost of management of obesity and its related problems can be calculated

In 2000 the US spent $117 billion on obesity (9 of the national total health budget)

The morbidity and mortality burden of obesity

Overall about 25 millions deaths are attributed to overweightobesity worldwide

In the UK about 30000 deaths are attributable to obesity Ten times this figure occurs in the US where obesity is the second greatest preventable cause of death following smoking

Nearly 70 of cases of cardiovascular disease are associated with obesity

Obesity predisposes to an overall reduction of quality of life and premature death from diet related chronic non-communicable diseases

Problems Associated with Obesity

Type II Diabetes Coronary Heart disease Cancer Hypertension (high blood pressure) Cardio-respiratory Dysfunction Stroke Congestive Heart failure

Problems Associated with Obesity

Restrictive Lung Disease Pickwickian Syndrome (falling asleep while

sitting up) Degenerative Arthritis in the lower extremity

joints and spine Gallbladder Disease Infertility Varicose Veins Stasis Ulcer and Psychosocial incapacity (group acceptance

getting a job etc)

Stress and Obesity

Stress plays a major role in besity Emotions and environment stress affects a persons overeating pattern significantly

Emotional status plays upon the mind of the person while he is eating something

When people are not in an emotionally stable position due to some stress they tend to fall back to over eating

Stress and Obesity

In psychological thought there are two chief standpoints on obesity the externality hypothesis and the psychodynamic hypothesis

Overeating is considered to be a means of diminishing anxiety relieving frustration and deprivation sedating oneself diminishing guilt and handling anxiety

Rakoff and Garetz describe overeating as a means of coping with emotions such as anxiety anger despair and depression all of which are associated with stress

The obese person may use food in an attempt to regain a sense of self control when that sense is disturbed

Psychological factors for obesity

Psychological factors also influence eating habits

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

Up to 10 percent of people who are mildly obese and try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight loss programs have binge eating disorder

This disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese

Those with severe binge eating problems are likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem

These people may have more

difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than people without binge eating problems

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Mood regulation People eat to make themselves

feel better when they experience stress anxiety or depression

Females eat more when depressed than males ( Rozin amp Fallon1988)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Restraint theory ndash internal physiological signals cue hunger

when people are trying to lose weight they ignore internal signals and use cognitive rules to limit their intake

Cognitive rules related to ldquoforbidden foodsrdquo and ldquoall-or-nonerdquo approach If violated all is lost therefore over consumption occurs

Mood influences eating in restrained eaters when played sad music restrained eaters ate more

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

The Obesity Epidemic

Obesity is Americas fastest growing health concern

According to the National Institute of Diabetes amp Digestive amp Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) over 60 of Americans are obese

Compared to 1991 statistics it has increased by about 33

The Obesity Epidemic

Eight out of ten people over 25 years of age in the US are overweight 75 are not meeting recommended basic activity level and 25 are completely inactive

Obesity in Iran The whole prevalence of abnormal

BMI was 733 Of these 441 were overweight

and 292 were obese Percentages for overweight were

82 and 632 for women and men respectively

Sarvghadi F Rambod M Hosseinpanah F Hedayati M Tohidi M Azizi F

Obesity Research Center Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran

Saudi Arabia The prevalence of obesity in Saudi

Arabia ranged from 14 in children under 6 years to about 83 in adults

Women were more prone to be overweight or obese than men

Factors associated with obesity were age sex socio-economic status employment education and parity

Khalid A Madani MPH DSc Bahrain Medical Bulletin Vol 22 No 3 Sep 2000

The burden of obesity ndash costly deadly

The financial burden of

obesity WHO data show that obesity accounts for 5-10 of the

total health care budget in several developed countries

This is probably a low estimate as not all of the cost of management of obesity and its related problems can be calculated

In 2000 the US spent $117 billion on obesity (9 of the national total health budget)

The morbidity and mortality burden of obesity

Overall about 25 millions deaths are attributed to overweightobesity worldwide

In the UK about 30000 deaths are attributable to obesity Ten times this figure occurs in the US where obesity is the second greatest preventable cause of death following smoking

Nearly 70 of cases of cardiovascular disease are associated with obesity

Obesity predisposes to an overall reduction of quality of life and premature death from diet related chronic non-communicable diseases

Problems Associated with Obesity

Type II Diabetes Coronary Heart disease Cancer Hypertension (high blood pressure) Cardio-respiratory Dysfunction Stroke Congestive Heart failure

Problems Associated with Obesity

Restrictive Lung Disease Pickwickian Syndrome (falling asleep while

sitting up) Degenerative Arthritis in the lower extremity

joints and spine Gallbladder Disease Infertility Varicose Veins Stasis Ulcer and Psychosocial incapacity (group acceptance

getting a job etc)

Stress and Obesity

Stress plays a major role in besity Emotions and environment stress affects a persons overeating pattern significantly

Emotional status plays upon the mind of the person while he is eating something

When people are not in an emotionally stable position due to some stress they tend to fall back to over eating

Stress and Obesity

In psychological thought there are two chief standpoints on obesity the externality hypothesis and the psychodynamic hypothesis

Overeating is considered to be a means of diminishing anxiety relieving frustration and deprivation sedating oneself diminishing guilt and handling anxiety

Rakoff and Garetz describe overeating as a means of coping with emotions such as anxiety anger despair and depression all of which are associated with stress

The obese person may use food in an attempt to regain a sense of self control when that sense is disturbed

Psychological factors for obesity

Psychological factors also influence eating habits

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

Up to 10 percent of people who are mildly obese and try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight loss programs have binge eating disorder

This disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese

Those with severe binge eating problems are likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem

These people may have more

difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than people without binge eating problems

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Mood regulation People eat to make themselves

feel better when they experience stress anxiety or depression

Females eat more when depressed than males ( Rozin amp Fallon1988)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Restraint theory ndash internal physiological signals cue hunger

when people are trying to lose weight they ignore internal signals and use cognitive rules to limit their intake

Cognitive rules related to ldquoforbidden foodsrdquo and ldquoall-or-nonerdquo approach If violated all is lost therefore over consumption occurs

Mood influences eating in restrained eaters when played sad music restrained eaters ate more

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

The Obesity Epidemic

Eight out of ten people over 25 years of age in the US are overweight 75 are not meeting recommended basic activity level and 25 are completely inactive

Obesity in Iran The whole prevalence of abnormal

BMI was 733 Of these 441 were overweight

and 292 were obese Percentages for overweight were

82 and 632 for women and men respectively

Sarvghadi F Rambod M Hosseinpanah F Hedayati M Tohidi M Azizi F

Obesity Research Center Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran

Saudi Arabia The prevalence of obesity in Saudi

Arabia ranged from 14 in children under 6 years to about 83 in adults

Women were more prone to be overweight or obese than men

Factors associated with obesity were age sex socio-economic status employment education and parity

Khalid A Madani MPH DSc Bahrain Medical Bulletin Vol 22 No 3 Sep 2000

The burden of obesity ndash costly deadly

The financial burden of

obesity WHO data show that obesity accounts for 5-10 of the

total health care budget in several developed countries

This is probably a low estimate as not all of the cost of management of obesity and its related problems can be calculated

In 2000 the US spent $117 billion on obesity (9 of the national total health budget)

The morbidity and mortality burden of obesity

Overall about 25 millions deaths are attributed to overweightobesity worldwide

In the UK about 30000 deaths are attributable to obesity Ten times this figure occurs in the US where obesity is the second greatest preventable cause of death following smoking

Nearly 70 of cases of cardiovascular disease are associated with obesity

Obesity predisposes to an overall reduction of quality of life and premature death from diet related chronic non-communicable diseases

Problems Associated with Obesity

Type II Diabetes Coronary Heart disease Cancer Hypertension (high blood pressure) Cardio-respiratory Dysfunction Stroke Congestive Heart failure

Problems Associated with Obesity

Restrictive Lung Disease Pickwickian Syndrome (falling asleep while

sitting up) Degenerative Arthritis in the lower extremity

joints and spine Gallbladder Disease Infertility Varicose Veins Stasis Ulcer and Psychosocial incapacity (group acceptance

getting a job etc)

Stress and Obesity

Stress plays a major role in besity Emotions and environment stress affects a persons overeating pattern significantly

Emotional status plays upon the mind of the person while he is eating something

When people are not in an emotionally stable position due to some stress they tend to fall back to over eating

Stress and Obesity

In psychological thought there are two chief standpoints on obesity the externality hypothesis and the psychodynamic hypothesis

Overeating is considered to be a means of diminishing anxiety relieving frustration and deprivation sedating oneself diminishing guilt and handling anxiety

Rakoff and Garetz describe overeating as a means of coping with emotions such as anxiety anger despair and depression all of which are associated with stress

The obese person may use food in an attempt to regain a sense of self control when that sense is disturbed

Psychological factors for obesity

Psychological factors also influence eating habits

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

Up to 10 percent of people who are mildly obese and try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight loss programs have binge eating disorder

This disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese

Those with severe binge eating problems are likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem

These people may have more

difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than people without binge eating problems

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Mood regulation People eat to make themselves

feel better when they experience stress anxiety or depression

Females eat more when depressed than males ( Rozin amp Fallon1988)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Restraint theory ndash internal physiological signals cue hunger

when people are trying to lose weight they ignore internal signals and use cognitive rules to limit their intake

Cognitive rules related to ldquoforbidden foodsrdquo and ldquoall-or-nonerdquo approach If violated all is lost therefore over consumption occurs

Mood influences eating in restrained eaters when played sad music restrained eaters ate more

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Obesity in Iran The whole prevalence of abnormal

BMI was 733 Of these 441 were overweight

and 292 were obese Percentages for overweight were

82 and 632 for women and men respectively

Sarvghadi F Rambod M Hosseinpanah F Hedayati M Tohidi M Azizi F

Obesity Research Center Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran

Saudi Arabia The prevalence of obesity in Saudi

Arabia ranged from 14 in children under 6 years to about 83 in adults

Women were more prone to be overweight or obese than men

Factors associated with obesity were age sex socio-economic status employment education and parity

Khalid A Madani MPH DSc Bahrain Medical Bulletin Vol 22 No 3 Sep 2000

The burden of obesity ndash costly deadly

The financial burden of

obesity WHO data show that obesity accounts for 5-10 of the

total health care budget in several developed countries

This is probably a low estimate as not all of the cost of management of obesity and its related problems can be calculated

In 2000 the US spent $117 billion on obesity (9 of the national total health budget)

The morbidity and mortality burden of obesity

Overall about 25 millions deaths are attributed to overweightobesity worldwide

In the UK about 30000 deaths are attributable to obesity Ten times this figure occurs in the US where obesity is the second greatest preventable cause of death following smoking

Nearly 70 of cases of cardiovascular disease are associated with obesity

Obesity predisposes to an overall reduction of quality of life and premature death from diet related chronic non-communicable diseases

Problems Associated with Obesity

Type II Diabetes Coronary Heart disease Cancer Hypertension (high blood pressure) Cardio-respiratory Dysfunction Stroke Congestive Heart failure

Problems Associated with Obesity

Restrictive Lung Disease Pickwickian Syndrome (falling asleep while

sitting up) Degenerative Arthritis in the lower extremity

joints and spine Gallbladder Disease Infertility Varicose Veins Stasis Ulcer and Psychosocial incapacity (group acceptance

getting a job etc)

Stress and Obesity

Stress plays a major role in besity Emotions and environment stress affects a persons overeating pattern significantly

Emotional status plays upon the mind of the person while he is eating something

When people are not in an emotionally stable position due to some stress they tend to fall back to over eating

Stress and Obesity

In psychological thought there are two chief standpoints on obesity the externality hypothesis and the psychodynamic hypothesis

Overeating is considered to be a means of diminishing anxiety relieving frustration and deprivation sedating oneself diminishing guilt and handling anxiety

Rakoff and Garetz describe overeating as a means of coping with emotions such as anxiety anger despair and depression all of which are associated with stress

The obese person may use food in an attempt to regain a sense of self control when that sense is disturbed

Psychological factors for obesity

Psychological factors also influence eating habits

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

Up to 10 percent of people who are mildly obese and try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight loss programs have binge eating disorder

This disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese

Those with severe binge eating problems are likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem

These people may have more

difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than people without binge eating problems

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Mood regulation People eat to make themselves

feel better when they experience stress anxiety or depression

Females eat more when depressed than males ( Rozin amp Fallon1988)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Restraint theory ndash internal physiological signals cue hunger

when people are trying to lose weight they ignore internal signals and use cognitive rules to limit their intake

Cognitive rules related to ldquoforbidden foodsrdquo and ldquoall-or-nonerdquo approach If violated all is lost therefore over consumption occurs

Mood influences eating in restrained eaters when played sad music restrained eaters ate more

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Saudi Arabia The prevalence of obesity in Saudi

Arabia ranged from 14 in children under 6 years to about 83 in adults

Women were more prone to be overweight or obese than men

Factors associated with obesity were age sex socio-economic status employment education and parity

Khalid A Madani MPH DSc Bahrain Medical Bulletin Vol 22 No 3 Sep 2000

The burden of obesity ndash costly deadly

The financial burden of

obesity WHO data show that obesity accounts for 5-10 of the

total health care budget in several developed countries

This is probably a low estimate as not all of the cost of management of obesity and its related problems can be calculated

In 2000 the US spent $117 billion on obesity (9 of the national total health budget)

The morbidity and mortality burden of obesity

Overall about 25 millions deaths are attributed to overweightobesity worldwide

In the UK about 30000 deaths are attributable to obesity Ten times this figure occurs in the US where obesity is the second greatest preventable cause of death following smoking

Nearly 70 of cases of cardiovascular disease are associated with obesity

Obesity predisposes to an overall reduction of quality of life and premature death from diet related chronic non-communicable diseases

Problems Associated with Obesity

Type II Diabetes Coronary Heart disease Cancer Hypertension (high blood pressure) Cardio-respiratory Dysfunction Stroke Congestive Heart failure

Problems Associated with Obesity

Restrictive Lung Disease Pickwickian Syndrome (falling asleep while

sitting up) Degenerative Arthritis in the lower extremity

joints and spine Gallbladder Disease Infertility Varicose Veins Stasis Ulcer and Psychosocial incapacity (group acceptance

getting a job etc)

Stress and Obesity

Stress plays a major role in besity Emotions and environment stress affects a persons overeating pattern significantly

Emotional status plays upon the mind of the person while he is eating something

When people are not in an emotionally stable position due to some stress they tend to fall back to over eating

Stress and Obesity

In psychological thought there are two chief standpoints on obesity the externality hypothesis and the psychodynamic hypothesis

Overeating is considered to be a means of diminishing anxiety relieving frustration and deprivation sedating oneself diminishing guilt and handling anxiety

Rakoff and Garetz describe overeating as a means of coping with emotions such as anxiety anger despair and depression all of which are associated with stress

The obese person may use food in an attempt to regain a sense of self control when that sense is disturbed

Psychological factors for obesity

Psychological factors also influence eating habits

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

Up to 10 percent of people who are mildly obese and try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight loss programs have binge eating disorder

This disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese

Those with severe binge eating problems are likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem

These people may have more

difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than people without binge eating problems

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Mood regulation People eat to make themselves

feel better when they experience stress anxiety or depression

Females eat more when depressed than males ( Rozin amp Fallon1988)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Restraint theory ndash internal physiological signals cue hunger

when people are trying to lose weight they ignore internal signals and use cognitive rules to limit their intake

Cognitive rules related to ldquoforbidden foodsrdquo and ldquoall-or-nonerdquo approach If violated all is lost therefore over consumption occurs

Mood influences eating in restrained eaters when played sad music restrained eaters ate more

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

The burden of obesity ndash costly deadly

The financial burden of

obesity WHO data show that obesity accounts for 5-10 of the

total health care budget in several developed countries

This is probably a low estimate as not all of the cost of management of obesity and its related problems can be calculated

In 2000 the US spent $117 billion on obesity (9 of the national total health budget)

The morbidity and mortality burden of obesity

Overall about 25 millions deaths are attributed to overweightobesity worldwide

In the UK about 30000 deaths are attributable to obesity Ten times this figure occurs in the US where obesity is the second greatest preventable cause of death following smoking

Nearly 70 of cases of cardiovascular disease are associated with obesity

Obesity predisposes to an overall reduction of quality of life and premature death from diet related chronic non-communicable diseases

Problems Associated with Obesity

Type II Diabetes Coronary Heart disease Cancer Hypertension (high blood pressure) Cardio-respiratory Dysfunction Stroke Congestive Heart failure

Problems Associated with Obesity

Restrictive Lung Disease Pickwickian Syndrome (falling asleep while

sitting up) Degenerative Arthritis in the lower extremity

joints and spine Gallbladder Disease Infertility Varicose Veins Stasis Ulcer and Psychosocial incapacity (group acceptance

getting a job etc)

Stress and Obesity

Stress plays a major role in besity Emotions and environment stress affects a persons overeating pattern significantly

Emotional status plays upon the mind of the person while he is eating something

When people are not in an emotionally stable position due to some stress they tend to fall back to over eating

Stress and Obesity

In psychological thought there are two chief standpoints on obesity the externality hypothesis and the psychodynamic hypothesis

Overeating is considered to be a means of diminishing anxiety relieving frustration and deprivation sedating oneself diminishing guilt and handling anxiety

Rakoff and Garetz describe overeating as a means of coping with emotions such as anxiety anger despair and depression all of which are associated with stress

The obese person may use food in an attempt to regain a sense of self control when that sense is disturbed

Psychological factors for obesity

Psychological factors also influence eating habits

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

Up to 10 percent of people who are mildly obese and try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight loss programs have binge eating disorder

This disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese

Those with severe binge eating problems are likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem

These people may have more

difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than people without binge eating problems

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Mood regulation People eat to make themselves

feel better when they experience stress anxiety or depression

Females eat more when depressed than males ( Rozin amp Fallon1988)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Restraint theory ndash internal physiological signals cue hunger

when people are trying to lose weight they ignore internal signals and use cognitive rules to limit their intake

Cognitive rules related to ldquoforbidden foodsrdquo and ldquoall-or-nonerdquo approach If violated all is lost therefore over consumption occurs

Mood influences eating in restrained eaters when played sad music restrained eaters ate more

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Problems Associated with Obesity

Type II Diabetes Coronary Heart disease Cancer Hypertension (high blood pressure) Cardio-respiratory Dysfunction Stroke Congestive Heart failure

Problems Associated with Obesity

Restrictive Lung Disease Pickwickian Syndrome (falling asleep while

sitting up) Degenerative Arthritis in the lower extremity

joints and spine Gallbladder Disease Infertility Varicose Veins Stasis Ulcer and Psychosocial incapacity (group acceptance

getting a job etc)

Stress and Obesity

Stress plays a major role in besity Emotions and environment stress affects a persons overeating pattern significantly

Emotional status plays upon the mind of the person while he is eating something

When people are not in an emotionally stable position due to some stress they tend to fall back to over eating

Stress and Obesity

In psychological thought there are two chief standpoints on obesity the externality hypothesis and the psychodynamic hypothesis

Overeating is considered to be a means of diminishing anxiety relieving frustration and deprivation sedating oneself diminishing guilt and handling anxiety

Rakoff and Garetz describe overeating as a means of coping with emotions such as anxiety anger despair and depression all of which are associated with stress

The obese person may use food in an attempt to regain a sense of self control when that sense is disturbed

Psychological factors for obesity

Psychological factors also influence eating habits

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

Up to 10 percent of people who are mildly obese and try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight loss programs have binge eating disorder

This disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese

Those with severe binge eating problems are likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem

These people may have more

difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than people without binge eating problems

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Mood regulation People eat to make themselves

feel better when they experience stress anxiety or depression

Females eat more when depressed than males ( Rozin amp Fallon1988)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Restraint theory ndash internal physiological signals cue hunger

when people are trying to lose weight they ignore internal signals and use cognitive rules to limit their intake

Cognitive rules related to ldquoforbidden foodsrdquo and ldquoall-or-nonerdquo approach If violated all is lost therefore over consumption occurs

Mood influences eating in restrained eaters when played sad music restrained eaters ate more

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Problems Associated with Obesity

Restrictive Lung Disease Pickwickian Syndrome (falling asleep while

sitting up) Degenerative Arthritis in the lower extremity

joints and spine Gallbladder Disease Infertility Varicose Veins Stasis Ulcer and Psychosocial incapacity (group acceptance

getting a job etc)

Stress and Obesity

Stress plays a major role in besity Emotions and environment stress affects a persons overeating pattern significantly

Emotional status plays upon the mind of the person while he is eating something

When people are not in an emotionally stable position due to some stress they tend to fall back to over eating

Stress and Obesity

In psychological thought there are two chief standpoints on obesity the externality hypothesis and the psychodynamic hypothesis

Overeating is considered to be a means of diminishing anxiety relieving frustration and deprivation sedating oneself diminishing guilt and handling anxiety

Rakoff and Garetz describe overeating as a means of coping with emotions such as anxiety anger despair and depression all of which are associated with stress

The obese person may use food in an attempt to regain a sense of self control when that sense is disturbed

Psychological factors for obesity

Psychological factors also influence eating habits

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

Up to 10 percent of people who are mildly obese and try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight loss programs have binge eating disorder

This disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese

Those with severe binge eating problems are likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem

These people may have more

difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than people without binge eating problems

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Mood regulation People eat to make themselves

feel better when they experience stress anxiety or depression

Females eat more when depressed than males ( Rozin amp Fallon1988)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Restraint theory ndash internal physiological signals cue hunger

when people are trying to lose weight they ignore internal signals and use cognitive rules to limit their intake

Cognitive rules related to ldquoforbidden foodsrdquo and ldquoall-or-nonerdquo approach If violated all is lost therefore over consumption occurs

Mood influences eating in restrained eaters when played sad music restrained eaters ate more

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Stress and Obesity

Stress plays a major role in besity Emotions and environment stress affects a persons overeating pattern significantly

Emotional status plays upon the mind of the person while he is eating something

When people are not in an emotionally stable position due to some stress they tend to fall back to over eating

Stress and Obesity

In psychological thought there are two chief standpoints on obesity the externality hypothesis and the psychodynamic hypothesis

Overeating is considered to be a means of diminishing anxiety relieving frustration and deprivation sedating oneself diminishing guilt and handling anxiety

Rakoff and Garetz describe overeating as a means of coping with emotions such as anxiety anger despair and depression all of which are associated with stress

The obese person may use food in an attempt to regain a sense of self control when that sense is disturbed

Psychological factors for obesity

Psychological factors also influence eating habits

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

Up to 10 percent of people who are mildly obese and try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight loss programs have binge eating disorder

This disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese

Those with severe binge eating problems are likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem

These people may have more

difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than people without binge eating problems

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Mood regulation People eat to make themselves

feel better when they experience stress anxiety or depression

Females eat more when depressed than males ( Rozin amp Fallon1988)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Restraint theory ndash internal physiological signals cue hunger

when people are trying to lose weight they ignore internal signals and use cognitive rules to limit their intake

Cognitive rules related to ldquoforbidden foodsrdquo and ldquoall-or-nonerdquo approach If violated all is lost therefore over consumption occurs

Mood influences eating in restrained eaters when played sad music restrained eaters ate more

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Stress and Obesity

In psychological thought there are two chief standpoints on obesity the externality hypothesis and the psychodynamic hypothesis

Overeating is considered to be a means of diminishing anxiety relieving frustration and deprivation sedating oneself diminishing guilt and handling anxiety

Rakoff and Garetz describe overeating as a means of coping with emotions such as anxiety anger despair and depression all of which are associated with stress

The obese person may use food in an attempt to regain a sense of self control when that sense is disturbed

Psychological factors for obesity

Psychological factors also influence eating habits

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

Up to 10 percent of people who are mildly obese and try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight loss programs have binge eating disorder

This disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese

Those with severe binge eating problems are likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem

These people may have more

difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than people without binge eating problems

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Mood regulation People eat to make themselves

feel better when they experience stress anxiety or depression

Females eat more when depressed than males ( Rozin amp Fallon1988)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Restraint theory ndash internal physiological signals cue hunger

when people are trying to lose weight they ignore internal signals and use cognitive rules to limit their intake

Cognitive rules related to ldquoforbidden foodsrdquo and ldquoall-or-nonerdquo approach If violated all is lost therefore over consumption occurs

Mood influences eating in restrained eaters when played sad music restrained eaters ate more

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Overeating is considered to be a means of diminishing anxiety relieving frustration and deprivation sedating oneself diminishing guilt and handling anxiety

Rakoff and Garetz describe overeating as a means of coping with emotions such as anxiety anger despair and depression all of which are associated with stress

The obese person may use food in an attempt to regain a sense of self control when that sense is disturbed

Psychological factors for obesity

Psychological factors also influence eating habits

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

Up to 10 percent of people who are mildly obese and try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight loss programs have binge eating disorder

This disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese

Those with severe binge eating problems are likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem

These people may have more

difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than people without binge eating problems

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Mood regulation People eat to make themselves

feel better when they experience stress anxiety or depression

Females eat more when depressed than males ( Rozin amp Fallon1988)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Restraint theory ndash internal physiological signals cue hunger

when people are trying to lose weight they ignore internal signals and use cognitive rules to limit their intake

Cognitive rules related to ldquoforbidden foodsrdquo and ldquoall-or-nonerdquo approach If violated all is lost therefore over consumption occurs

Mood influences eating in restrained eaters when played sad music restrained eaters ate more

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

The obese person may use food in an attempt to regain a sense of self control when that sense is disturbed

Psychological factors for obesity

Psychological factors also influence eating habits

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

Up to 10 percent of people who are mildly obese and try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight loss programs have binge eating disorder

This disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese

Those with severe binge eating problems are likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem

These people may have more

difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than people without binge eating problems

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Mood regulation People eat to make themselves

feel better when they experience stress anxiety or depression

Females eat more when depressed than males ( Rozin amp Fallon1988)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Restraint theory ndash internal physiological signals cue hunger

when people are trying to lose weight they ignore internal signals and use cognitive rules to limit their intake

Cognitive rules related to ldquoforbidden foodsrdquo and ldquoall-or-nonerdquo approach If violated all is lost therefore over consumption occurs

Mood influences eating in restrained eaters when played sad music restrained eaters ate more

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Psychological factors for obesity

Psychological factors also influence eating habits

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

Up to 10 percent of people who are mildly obese and try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight loss programs have binge eating disorder

This disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese

Those with severe binge eating problems are likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem

These people may have more

difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than people without binge eating problems

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Mood regulation People eat to make themselves

feel better when they experience stress anxiety or depression

Females eat more when depressed than males ( Rozin amp Fallon1988)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Restraint theory ndash internal physiological signals cue hunger

when people are trying to lose weight they ignore internal signals and use cognitive rules to limit their intake

Cognitive rules related to ldquoforbidden foodsrdquo and ldquoall-or-nonerdquo approach If violated all is lost therefore over consumption occurs

Mood influences eating in restrained eaters when played sad music restrained eaters ate more

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Up to 10 percent of people who are mildly obese and try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight loss programs have binge eating disorder

This disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese

Those with severe binge eating problems are likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem

These people may have more

difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than people without binge eating problems

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Mood regulation People eat to make themselves

feel better when they experience stress anxiety or depression

Females eat more when depressed than males ( Rozin amp Fallon1988)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Restraint theory ndash internal physiological signals cue hunger

when people are trying to lose weight they ignore internal signals and use cognitive rules to limit their intake

Cognitive rules related to ldquoforbidden foodsrdquo and ldquoall-or-nonerdquo approach If violated all is lost therefore over consumption occurs

Mood influences eating in restrained eaters when played sad music restrained eaters ate more

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Those with severe binge eating problems are likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem

These people may have more

difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than people without binge eating problems

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Mood regulation People eat to make themselves

feel better when they experience stress anxiety or depression

Females eat more when depressed than males ( Rozin amp Fallon1988)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Restraint theory ndash internal physiological signals cue hunger

when people are trying to lose weight they ignore internal signals and use cognitive rules to limit their intake

Cognitive rules related to ldquoforbidden foodsrdquo and ldquoall-or-nonerdquo approach If violated all is lost therefore over consumption occurs

Mood influences eating in restrained eaters when played sad music restrained eaters ate more

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Mood regulation People eat to make themselves

feel better when they experience stress anxiety or depression

Females eat more when depressed than males ( Rozin amp Fallon1988)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Restraint theory ndash internal physiological signals cue hunger

when people are trying to lose weight they ignore internal signals and use cognitive rules to limit their intake

Cognitive rules related to ldquoforbidden foodsrdquo and ldquoall-or-nonerdquo approach If violated all is lost therefore over consumption occurs

Mood influences eating in restrained eaters when played sad music restrained eaters ate more

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Restraint theory ndash internal physiological signals cue hunger

when people are trying to lose weight they ignore internal signals and use cognitive rules to limit their intake

Cognitive rules related to ldquoforbidden foodsrdquo and ldquoall-or-nonerdquo approach If violated all is lost therefore over consumption occurs

Mood influences eating in restrained eaters when played sad music restrained eaters ate more

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Psychological aspects of obesity

Obese people show more psychiatric disturbance There appear to be no global personality traits or

profiles that are associated with obesity However obese people differ from non-obese

groups on psychological and behavioral variables related to weight and eating and more frequently display perceptual and emotional body image anomalies

Binge eating is common among obese groups

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Restraint theory not always a good predictor of eating behavior ndash Lowe (1993)

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

How do psychological factors influence eating (and overeating)

Lifestyle and culture people eat more when with others ndash

social cues ndash What mothers eat while pregnant may

influence taste preferences in children ndash Mennela et al (2001) study with expectant mothers drinking carrot juice

culture influences types of food and tastes ndash dog or snake for dinner

cultural factors like availability and amount of food contribute to obesity ndash US has highest rate of obesity ndash change in proportions over the years the ldquosupersizerdquo generation and video games

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Summary

obesity results from a complex interplay of several factors genetic environmental (lifestyle and dietary) cultural socio-economic psychological and medical conditions

rapid urbanization and economic development have led to changing lifestyles and diets across the world which promote excessive weight gain

an increasing incidence of obesity is also being seen in the poor developing countries of the world

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Health Consequences of Obesity

Mental - depression - anxiety - personality disorder - self esteem - etc

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Psychological factors

Psychological factors influence eating habits and obesity

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom sadness or anger

While most overweight people have no more psychological disturbances than people at their normal weight about 30 of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Barriers to Weight Management

1048715 Socio-economic 1048715 Emotional 1048715 Comorbidities 1048715 Medications 1048715 Saboteurs 1048715 Substance abuse 1048715 Genetics

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Depression anxiety and other mood disorders are associated with both eating disorders and obesity

Adolescents who are depressed may be at an increased risk of becoming obese One recent study found that depressed adolescents were two times more likely to become obese at the one year follow up than teens who did not suffer from depression

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Many people with eating disorders suffer from clinical depression anxiety personality or substance abuse disorders or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorder

Therefore a mental health professional may need to be involved in treating an individual who is obese or suffers from an eating disorder or other weight-related problem

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Fonseca and colleagues aimed to identify psychosocial and lifestyle behaviors which distinguish overweight and obese teens from their lean peers

The study included 6131 students aged 11-16 who completed questionnaires on their body weight body image diet history life satisfaction health perception peer group involvement happiness irritability and alcohol use

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

They report that overweight and obese individuals were more likely to perceive others as making less positive and more negative comments about them

Further overweight and obese teens found it more difficult to become involved with their peer group were more likely to report being unhappy and more likely to report abusing alcohol

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

One may need to recount certain past incidents and habits to verify and confirm if mental factors behind your abnormal weight gain The following points would authenticate the psychological aspects of obesity

If your binge eating habit is prompted and initiated by stress anger etc the cause of obesity is probably psychological

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight predisposition which has its beginning in the adolescence are likely to have psychological influences

When young people fail to come into terms with their psychological insights they generally indulge in unhealthy eating practices that can lead to a permanent overweight or obesity

And when onersquos obesity has at least a faint clue of mental undertones the extra pounds become pretty difficult to lose

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Certain events in life tend to raise the level of stress in people It inculcates in us a habit of getting ourselves off the stressful situation in the way we know best It is common knowledge that we falter in the face of emotions like rage grief love anger etc Many of these emotions may relate to food like a history of being overfed When a food associated stress hits us we tend to eat to relieve the stress This can lead to obesity due to overeating

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

it has been well substantiated and demonstrated that many people with binge eating disorder have lived through bouts of depression and low self-esteem even before they became obese and overweight

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

With overweight people who overeat to the point of obesity the following steps occurs

Feeling lonely desperate or dejected Eating to feel better and alleviate some of

the depressive symptoms Self loathing about the overeating that just

occurred Beginning back at 1 againhellip and againhellip

and again

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

The Psychological Scars of Weight Gain and Obesity

The psychological pain caused by obesity often includes self loathing awkwardness and avoidance of social situations and nurturing a lovehate relationship with food resulting in emotional and mental scars

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

The most rigorous clinical studies suggest that (1) children and adolescents with major depressive disorder may be at increased risk for developing overweight (2) patients with bipolar disorder may have elevated rates of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity and (3) obese persons seeking weight-loss treatment may have elevated rates of depressive and bipolar disorders

The most rigorous community studies suggest that (1) depression with atypical symptoms in females is significantly more likely to be associated with overweight than depression with typical symptoms

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

(2) obesity is associated with major depressive disorder in females and (3) abdominal obesity may be associated with depressive symptoms in females and males but (4) most overweight and obese persons in the community do not have mood disorders Studies of phenomenology comorbidity family history biology and pharmacologic treatment response of mood disorders and obesity show that both conditions share many similarities along all of these indices

McElroy SL Kotwal R Malhotra S Nelson EB Keck PE Nemeroff CB J Clin Psychiatry 2005 Feb66(2)265

Obesity Linked to Mood Disorders

Obese people are 25 more likely to suffer mood and anxiety disorders -- and 25 less likely to suffer substance abuse disorders -- than people who arent obese

The survey shows that compared with people who are not obese obese people are

21 more likely to suffer major depression 47 more likely to suffer bipolar disorder 27 more likely to suffer panic disorder or fear of

open places 22 less likely to suffer substance use disorders Daniel J DeNoon WebMD Health News

Psychological and social effects of obesity

Emotional suffering may be one of the most painful parts of obesity

Most societies emphasize physical appearance and often equates attractiveness with slimness especially for women

Such messages make overweight people feel unattractive

Many people think that obese individuals are gluttonous lazy or both even though this is not true

As a result obese people often face prejudice or discrimination in the job market at school and in social situations

Feelings of rejection shame or depression are common

Psychological and social effects of obesity

Emotional suffering may be one of the most painful parts of obesity

Most societies emphasize physical appearance and often equates attractiveness with slimness especially for women

Such messages make overweight people feel unattractive

Many people think that obese individuals are gluttonous lazy or both even though this is not true

As a result obese people often face prejudice or discrimination in the job market at school and in social situations

Feelings of rejection shame or depression are common

Many people think that obese individuals are gluttonous lazy or both even though this is not true

As a result obese people often face prejudice or discrimination in the job market at school and in social situations

Feelings of rejection shame or depression are common