Psychological Approaches- Key to tackling Obesity.

At last! I think that at least some cases of obesity should be considered to be just as much of a psychological problem as anorexia and bulimia.

While I would never class myself as such an extreme case, the 'reasons' for my weight include protection, camouflage and 'self-destruction'. If I'm happy, I eat less. If I'm stressed, or fearful, the pounds go on. I'm not making excuses - the weight is my fault, and I do know better. But being told to 'go away and lose some weight' by someone who probably knows less about dieting than I do, occasionally makes me very angry! Does anyone really think I like weighing 20 stone? (18 now!)

I eat when I'm angry, too.

Viv 8)

Couldn't agree more wih your first sentence VIV. This used to be generally accepted but is fast becoming replaced by blaming the individual and lumping everyone together.

I can think of many reasons why the population iin general is geting bigger-. iIts not rocket science-Equally I am sure we all have friends and relatives who may be overweight and because we know them and their circumstances and perhaps also know of any trauma in their lives we automatically attribute the reason for their weight gain or inability to lose weight o to the correct cause.
Its good to see a little common sense applied o these things occasionally. I do hope however that any help offered o individuals will be tailored o the individual and no of the "one size fits all " variety wih which all of us here are familiar.

viviennem said:

At last! I think that at least some cases of obesity should be considered to be just as much of a psychological problem as anorexia and bulimia.

While I would never class myself as such an extreme case, the 'reasons' for my weight include protection, camouflage and 'self-destruction'. If I'm happy, I eat less. If I'm stressed, or fearful, the pounds go on. I'm not making excuses - the weight is my fault, and I do know better. But being told to 'go away and lose some weight' by someone who probably knows less about dieting than I do, occasionally makes me very angry! Does anyone really think I like weighing 20 stone? (18 now!)

I eat when I'm angry, too.

Viv 8)

Click to expand...

Reading this has reminded me of a Doctor I saw quite a few years ago before I was diagnosed with diabetes. I went to see him about tiredness and sleeping problems, he asked me a few questions and after reading in my notes he said "You are 2 stones overweight, lose that and you will feel better." I looked at him speechless for a while and just got up and left the room.....the guy was about 22 stones and probably only about 1 inch taller than me! :shock: :? :roll: :lol:

I'm with you there, Ka-Mon - ear ache, infected mosquito bite, thinning hair - "lose some weight"!

Two of my practice doctors are well over 6 foot and skinny as rakes. What hope is there for me? Their diet problems are putting weight on :shock:

I wish! :lol:

Viv 8)

Used to have a doctor whose cure for everything was to "eat less cheese". His heory being that mucus was he source of all illness.

My daughter attended a school quite a distance from where we lived. In one of her lessons they were discussing medecine thrugh the ages . The teacher commented that whenever her husband visited the doctor wih whatever condition he was old to eat less cheese. My daugher muttered the name and locaion of the doctor and her teacher wen bright red.

It was indeed he same doctor. I know he had a point but I don't eat much cheese now and I am still diabetic :cry: :lol:

Hi,
Just trawling through some older threads (I only just joined) when I saw this one.
Until 2007 I worked as a hypno/psychotherapist, and a lot of my clients came to me for help with weight control... and there is so much more that could be done if only psychological approaches were used fully.
Contrary to popular (and false) beliefs, a hypnotherapist does not have 'power' over you - they are simply facilitators, helping you to realise your potential naturally. When you already know that you eat for comfort/to relieve stress/when you're angry, then being told to 'eat less' is NOT the right approach. Why can't medical professionals realise this? The root cause of the problem is the stress/ anger /low self-esteem, etc.
Also, being told to 'lose' weight is self-defeating. Most of us are programmed from a very early age to 'find' what we have lost (your toys, homework, gym kit...!), so once we've proudly announced to everyone how much weight we've 'lost', there is a driving force within us (the subconscious mind) that panics, and does all it can to help us find it again - hence the yo-yo effect. Use the phrase 'weight control' - since we all prefer to think we are in control!
I have gained about 20lbs since my fiance died in 2009. Back then I was probably underweight, so my new shape is fine now, but this only adds to the proof that 'eating' isn't the problem. It's coping with whatever life throws at us that can cause problems.
So do look into this - even if you only read a self-help book or 2. One day, who knows? Maybe these sorts of therapies will be made accessible to all.
Rose

I'm an awkward type of person who has lost weight and fully intend keeping it off, my BMI is now no longer considered obese. I was always active anyway, but now I have ticked one of their boxes the doctors will have to work harder to come up with new excuses for any illness I have now.

Yes most inconsiderate of you Gappy! When I was first diagnosed both the Diabetes soecialist Gp and nurse were most put out that I was not overweight and had never smoked.

A few years down the line and I had started o gain a little weight wih the glimepiride the Nurse was happy as I almost qualified for lectures and threats .
Now I am back to my former weight even the HCA who does my blood tests voices her opinion about my "slimness" in a very critical voive and feels it necessary to confirm several times that I am in fact diabeic and really there for HBA1C.

Next thing we know all patients who don't fit the stereotype will be struck off.. Fancy forcing them to diagnose !