The Psychosocial Burden of Obesity

Abstract

SUMMARY This article provides an overview of the psychological aspects of obesity. The disease of obesity is associated with a significant psychosocial burden. Many individuals who have obesity also struggle with issues related to their mood, self-esteem, quality of life, and body image. This emotional distress likely plays a role in treatment seeking but also can impact successful treatment. For these reasons, most multidisciplinary obesity treatment teams include mental health professionals who can assess and treat these issues in patients as needed. Encouragingly, weight loss is typically associated with improvements in psychosocial status and functioning. These positive changes are often most profound among those who have lost large percentages of their weight, as is often seen with bariatric surgery. Unfortunately, some individuals who lose weight experience a return of pre-existing psychopathology or the development of new psychosocial issues. Those who experience weight regain, regardless of the approach to weight loss, also remain at risk for the return of unwanted psychological symptoms. The unfortunate, ubiquitous nature of weight regain reminds all treatment providers of the need to assess psychosocial functioning at the onset of treatment, monitor changes during weight loss, and remain alert for worsening of symptoms with weight regain.

High intensity training in obesity: a Meta-analysis

“…Depression, a negative body image and embarrassment are factors that can influence the decision to participate in an exercise program. Therefore, attention to these psychological should be given in addition to exercise training in this group of patients . In the included studies, most of the exercises were performed on a cycle ergometer or on a treadmill.…”

“…However, the majority of the adults with obesity are not able to achieve this target due to different barriers, such as lack of motivation, lack of time and physical limitations . In addition, psychological factors like depression, anxiety and body image dissatisfaction are important limitations in people with obesity to perform exercise in public . High intensity training (HIT) is a time‐effective alternative to traditional exercise programs which mostly involves a low to moderate intensity training of long duration.…”

The Relationship between Weight Status and Depressive Symptoms in a Population Sample with Obesity: The Mediating Role of Appearance Evaluation

“…More recently, the psychological consequences of obesity have seen an increased research effort as well (e.g. [2-4]).…”

Chronischer Stress und seine Bedeutung für Adipositas

“…Die Internalisierung dieser strikten Ideale kann einen niedrigen Selbstwert, Unzufriedenheit mit dem eigenen Körper bis hin zu Essstörungen zur Folge haben, was sich wiederum negativ auf die Psyche und Lebensqualität der Betroffenen auswirkt (16). So finden zahlreiche Studien einen positiven Zusammenhang zwischen Adipositas und psychischen Erkrankungen wie beispielsweise Depressionen (17).…”