February 6th 2015 Author: Sara Mahmood Psychologist
Psychological factors that cause Obesity
Other than some of the medical reasons that contribute to obesity in people who are not necessarily over eating, there is not only one psychological factor that CAUSES obesity. Psychological factors that can be associated with obesity include behaviors such as •
Food adopted as a coping
mechanism Over eating behaviors adopted in order to grow up using food to cope with life is termed as adopting food as a coping mechanism---which leads towards obesity. If hunger is coming from your head & not from stomach it would suggest that you are using
food to cope with things like boredom, anxiety, stress, confusion, frustration, love, anger, etc. •Un regulated overeating (due to maladaptive functioning of Hypothalamus & levels of Serotonin in brain as both perform regulatory functions) •
Lack of activity (workouts/exercises & gym)
•
Personality factors (complexes, deprivations,
lack of impulse control) •
Stress
•
Depression and Anxiety as patterns of
dysfunctional eating (Binging, Eating in response to emotional states). •
Bulimia Nervosa--feelings of being out of
control with food (disordered & uncontrollable eating). •
Substance abuse & addiction of psychiatric
drugs, which can be associated with poor diet control and sedentary life styles.
Seeking out Psychotherapeutic Treatment for Overcoming Obesity & Unregulated Overeating: After you acknowledge the problem or causes associated with obesity, psychotherapeutic treatment for obesity and for overcoming unregulated over eating includes: •
Sorting out the type of hunger
•
Brain storming the
alternatives
•
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
Psychotherapeutic treatment includes sorting out whenever you are hungry whether or not that hunger is coming from your head or your stomach. If it is coming from your head it would suggest that you are using food to cope with things like boredom, anxiety, stress, confusion, frustration, love, anger , etc. Once acknowledged, you can proceed to the next step as another psychotherapeutic tip for overcoming unregulated over eating, its Brain storming the alternatives, brainstorm other things you can do besides eating and pen them down.
Now go through your list and pick out one or two ideas that might be reasonable for you. The next time you crave for food, try the alternatives. CBT for binge eating disorder will focus on helping people with binge eating disorder to break their pattern of unhealthy eating . CBT will help the individuals with binge eating disorder monitor their eating habits and avoid situations that make them want to binge.
The treatment will also help them cope with stress in ways that don’t involve food and to eat regularly in order to help
to reduce food cravings.
CBT
helps a person to better
understand
the connection between their
emotional state and eating — especially eating or turning to food when feeling bad, it helps to
‘say NO’ to one’s self in such situations.
Cognitive behavioral therapy will also help the person with obesity & binge eating disorder better understand their dysfunctional and broken beliefs
about their own self-image, weight, body shape , dieting and will divert their attraction towards work outs exercises, walk, gym, dieting and adapting healthy eating as well as living habits not only for being slim and in shape but also for their self satisfaction, psychological well being and happiness.