Psychological Issues in Obesity

Psychological and behavioral issues play significant roles in both the development and consequences of obesity. A multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of obesity that addresses psychological, social, environmental, and biological factors is critical to ensure comprehensive care, as well as best practices and outcomes. The importance of addressing the psychological aspects of the treatment of obesity has become more explicit over the last two decades. Not only is the role of a psychologist important for behavioral treatment of obesity and pre-surgical psychological assessment, but also following surgery to help them adjust to the post-operative lifestyle and subsequent emotional, behavioral, and social changes that often occur.

 The achievement of substantial weight loss from bariatric surgical or non-surgical approaches is significantly related to one’s ability to make permanent changes in one’s lifestyle that involves not only adherence to more appropriate nutritional intake and exercise, but also improved management of stress and emotional states with decreased reliance on eating as a coping mechanism.

Ever Heard of Chubby Daddy Clive Palmer's Diet?

Myth: Ice cream culprit of obesity.

Fact: Obesity is caused by excessive energy and fat and lack of physical activity due to poor eating habits and hereditary factors. Meanwhile, the contribution of energy and fat in ice cream per serving is very small, which is about 10 percent of the total energy requirement per day and 15 percent of the total requirement of fat per day.