The Response of Obese Patients to Weight Reduction: A Clinical Evaluation of Behavior

In these patients, psychopathologic adaptations during weight reduction were related to diminished body size, interpersonal transactions in the hospital environment which articulated with earlier injurious experiences, and caloric deprivation.

Abstract

Studies of the behavioral responses of obese patients during weight reduction present conflicting observations. This is due, in part, to methodologic problems. A possible solution is offered by a multidisciplinary investigation of obese patients before, during, and after weight reduction. This report gives details of one aspect of such an approach; namely, a clinical evaluation of psychopathologic reactions and psychodynamic processes of obese patients during weight loss. Four obese patients were fed a 600-cal./day liquid formula over a period of 16–20 weeks. Each patient manifested nonspecific symptoms of semi-starvation in addition to specific psychopathologic reactions related to individual personality structure. In these patients, psychopathologic adaptations during weight reduction were related to diminished body size, interpersonal transactions in the hospital environment which articulated with earlier injurious experiences, and caloric deprivation.