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Psychopathology and Obesitya

Annals of the New York Academy of SciencesPublished 1 June 1987
Thomas A. Wadden, Albert J. Stunkard
Citations121
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score1.46
SNIP1.73

TL;DR

Emotional difficulties faced by the obese may be largely attributable to an entrenched cultural contempt for the obese and a pervasive preoccupation with thinness.

Abstract

Obesity has historically been linked to emotional factors by clinicians and the lay public alike. Early psychiatric studies reinforced the popular perception that psychopathology is common among the overweight and plays an important role in the development of obesity. This notion has been challenged by recent investigations which suggest that psychological disturbances are more likely to be the consequences than the causes of obesity. Emotional difficulties faced by the obese may be largely attributable to an entrenched cultural contempt for the obese and a pervasive preoccupation with thinness.

Keywords

PsychologyHealth Professions