Alexithymia and Obesity

Clerici, Mario; Albonetti, S.; Papa, Roberta; Penati, G.; Invernizzi, G.

doi:10.1159/000288580

Cited by 38 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 9 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…However, an increased prevalence of alexithymia in persons with obesity but without diabetes has been shown [11, 15, 16]. Whether the direction of the association between abdominal obesity and alexithymia goes one-way or two-way cannot be concluded by this cross-sectional study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

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Gender, alexithymia and physical inactivity associated with abdominal obesity in type 1 diabetes mellitus: a cross sectional study at a secondary care hospital diabetes clinic

et al. 2017

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BackgroundObesity is linked to cardiovascular diseases and increasingly common in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) since the introduction of intensified insulin therapy. Our main aim was to explore associations between obesity and depression, anxiety, alexithymia and self-image measures and to control for lifestyle variables in a sample of persons with T1DM. Secondary aims were to explore associations between abdominal and general obesity and cardiovascular complications in T1DM.MethodsCross sectional study of 284 persons with T1DM (age 18–59 years, men 56%), consecutively recruited from one secondary care hospital diabetes clinic in Sweden. Assessments were performed with self-report instruments (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 items and Structural Analysis of Social Behavior). Anthropometrics and blood samples were collected for this study and supplemented with data from the patients’ medical records. Abdominal obesity was defined as waist circumference men/women (meters): ≥1.02/≥0.88, and general obesity as BMI ≥30 kg/m2 for both genders. Abdominal obesity was chosen in the analyses due to the high association with cardiovascular complications. Different explanatory logistic regression models were elaborated for the associations and calibrated and validated for goodness of fit with the data variables.ResultsThe prevalence of abdominal obesity was 49/284 (17%), men/women: 8%/29% (P < 0.001). Abdominal obesity was associated with women (AOR 4.9), physical inactivity (AOR 3.1), alexithymia (AOR 2.6) and age (per year) (AOR 1.04). One of the three alexithymia sub factors, “difficulty identifying feelings” (AOR 3.1), was associated with abdominal obesity. Gender analyses showed that abdominal obesity in men was associated with “difficulty identifying feelings” (AOR 7.7), and in women with use of antidepressants (AOR 4.3) and physical inactivity (AOR 3.6). Cardiovascular complications were associated with abdominal obesity (AOR 5.2).ConclusionsAlexithymia, particularly the alexithymia subfactor “difficulty identifying feelings”, physical inactivity, and women, as well as cardiovascular complications were associated with abdominal obesity. As abdominal obesity is detrimental in diabetes due to its association with cardiovascular complications, our results suggest two risk factor treatment targets: increased emotional awareness and increased physical activity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…Persons with alexithymia have difficulties distinguishing bodily sensations due to emotional arousal from bodily sensations of somatic origin [14]. Alexithymia has been linked to obesity [15–17], and to cardiovascular mortality in men [18]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender, alexithymia and physical inactivity associated with abdominal obesity in type 1 diabetes mellitus: a cross sectional study at a secondary care hospital diabetes clinic

et al. 2017

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“…The relationships between alexithymia and eating behaviours in obesity have been sparsely studied and poorly understood. There is empirical evidence suggesting a relationship between alexithymia and obesity (Clerici, Albonetti, Papa, Penati, & Invernizzi, 1992;Legorreta, Bull, & Kiely, 1988). Although some studies do not support this hypothesis, positing that alexithymia is present in obese or eating-disorder subjects with psychopathological characteristics (de Zwaan et al, 1995;Laquadra & Clopton, 1994;Morosin & Riva, 1997).…”

Section: Malkina-pykhmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of Rhythmic Movement Therapy for Disordered Eating Behaviors and Obesity

Malkina-Pykh

2012

Span. j. psychol.

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The aims of the present study were: a) to examine associations between pre-treatment BMI, body dissatisfaction, perfectionism, alexithymia, and restraint, emotional and external eating behaviour in obese patients; b) to analyze the impact of the pre-treatment measures in psychological variables on the outcome of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program; c) to test the effectiveness of rhythmic movement therapy (RMT) in the treatment of disordered eating behaviors and obesity with the CBT non-responders. At the first stage of treatment a total of 104 patients (32 males and 72 females, mean age was 37.6±6.7 years) self-referred or referred by professionals to CBT weight management program were selected at random. At the second stage 58 obese CBT-non-responders were randomly divided among the continuing CBT individual treatment group and RMT group. Control group was included. Results revealed that: a) significant associations existed between pre-treatment BMI, external eating and two dimensions of perfectionism, as well as between emotional and external eating and all dimensions of perfectionism, alexithymia and body image dissatisfaction; b) pre-treatment means of psychological variables significantly impacted the CBT program outcome; c). the efficacy of RMT approach for weight reduction as well as for the improvement of psychological status for CBT-non-responders was confirmed.

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“…The other CS study stems from 1992 and describes a high prevalence of alexithymia (impairment in symbolization and expression of emotions) in an obese sample when compared to Exner's reference data (Clerici, Albonetti, Papa, Penati, & Invernizzi, 1992). Hypothesized Rorschach alexithymia variables included those related to fantasy, affects, and available resources, which were lower among the obese.…”

Section: Earlier Rorschach Research On Obesity and Eating Disordersmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Synthesis of Recent Research on Obesity with the Rorschach and Suggestions for the Future

Elfhag

2010

Rorschachiana

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This article reviews recent research made on obesity using the Rorschach (Comprehensive System: CS) as the main assessment procedure. It focuses on the main results of a research program performed by the author within the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. When we studied Rorschach characteristics related to obesity, patients demonstrated difficulties with emotions and coping with everyday demands. We found that severe obesity was associated with lower mental distress and bodily concern. In experimentations, Rorschach predicted outcomes such as eating behaviors and weight. Larger weight loss in obesity treatments was explained by physical or dependency needs for food. These aspects could be specifically altered by treatment interventions targeting hunger or eating habits. Ego dysfunctions such as distortions in perception of reality predicted smaller weight loss and indicated more profound difficulties in obesity.

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Alexithymia and Obesity

Cited by 38 publications

References 9 publications

Gender, alexithymia and physical inactivity associated with abdominal obesity in type 1 diabetes mellitus: a cross sectional study at a secondary care hospital diabetes clinic

Gender, alexithymia and physical inactivity associated with abdominal obesity in type 1 diabetes mellitus: a cross sectional study at a secondary care hospital diabetes clinic

Effectiveness of Rhythmic Movement Therapy for Disordered Eating Behaviors and Obesity

A Synthesis of Recent Research on Obesity with the Rorschach and Suggestions for the Future

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