Is Obesity a Psychiatric Disorder?

While many of these therapies are designed for substance use and mental illness, some are relevant for treating obesity as well. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), while not directly attributed to weight loss, can reduce instances of binge-eating. Perhaps the most effective therapy for treating obesity involves nutritional counseling programs that target physical activity and eating behaviors.

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Pharmacological treatments that make overeating less rewarding, and behavioral treatments that offer alternative rewards, may also prove effective. Further collaborations between experts in the fields of obesity and addictions may prove fruitful in developing accurate models of overeating behavior and using them to design effective interventions to reduce obesity. Some behavioral treatments for addictions can also help obese individuals control food intake. Examples of treatments that may be effective for both obesity and substance use disorders include cognitive behavioral therapy, 12-step programs, and contingency management. Findings regarding common personality characteristics, behavior disorders, and brain mechanisms support an addiction model of obesity and shed light on difficulties obese people face when attempting to lose weight.

Recognition of individual differences in vulnerability to substance use disorders has advanced understanding of addictions, and a similar model for overeating could prove useful in understanding the development of obesity.
Some studies show it’s unlikely for stimulants, like cocaine and amphetamines, to co-occur with obesity.
For the most part, modern psychiatric diagnoses have deliberately remained neutral about the etiology of mental illnesses and it is for this reason that the term “disorder” has been used in place of “disease” within the DSM.

Obesity and Its Relationship to Addictions: Is Overeating a Form of Addictive Behavior?

As a reference, the National Institutes of Health defines moderate drinking as up to one drink a day for women and up to two for men. Even if you only drink on special occasions or weekend outings, you may find it helpful to explore life without alcohol entirely. In doing so, you may discover how much healthier you feel, how your relationships strengthen and the unexpected ways your overall quality of life improves. But, whether you set weekly limits or put down the glass completely, it’s about finding what aligns with your personal goals and health needs. In this regard, the evaluation takes on more of a psychoeducational component.

Sugary, Fatty And Salty Foods Are Like Drugs

In other words, you can have a bigger body with a strong engine or a smaller body with a weak engine. As more people embrace initiatives like Dry January and Sober October, taking a break from alcohol has now become more socially acceptable than ever before. As a licensed therapist, White recommends starting with a 30- to 90-day break to get a clear picture of your relationship with alcohol. “This period allows you to identify triggers and develop new coping mechanisms,” she explains.

Our brains are hardwired to respond to rewards, which motivates our behavior and actions. We eat food to maintain health and energy, and the taste of food is rewarding. Sex is pleasurable, but also produces children and is essential for human survival.

Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse, and Emotional Neglect

Nevertheless they do provide further evidence that some second generation antipsychotic drugs such as Olanzapine appear to have specific metabolic effects in relation to insulin production and regulation and that these effects occur rapidly after treatment is initiated. The findings of the studies reviewed above suggest that many people with SMI do indeed lead unhealthy lifestyles, eating diets that are poorer in nutritional content, smoking more and engaging in less physical activity than they should do. Obviously such unhealthy lifestyle factors are likely to have a detrimental effect on physical health however the study by Henderson et al. (2006) 27 suggests that the weight problems experienced by this client group may not necessarily be solely as a result of over eating and other factors should be considered. Henderson et al. (2006) 27 studied the dietary intake of 88 community dwelling individuals with schizophrenia comparing them to data from a national survey of the U.S. general population. The participants were significantly more likely to be overweight or obese and the nutritional content of their diets were poorer. However participants actually consumed significantly fewer calories per day than members of the general population leading the authors to conclude that obesity in SMI is not solely related to food consumption but may be due to other factors including medication side effects and lower levels of physical activity.

Furthermore, relatively little is known about physical conditions that can lead to obesity, so it is currently virtually impossible to rule out physiological causes of extreme weight gain.
As there is no universally accepted definition of a disease, it is possible that one cannot have a scientific, definitive answer regarding obesity.
In fact, it’s something of a running joke that once the cause of a psychiatric disorder is discovered — as with say, Alzheimer’s disease — it becomes a neurological disorder.
Some behavioral treatments for addictions can also help obese individuals control food intake.

Obesity marijuana addiction as pleiotropic risk state for metabolic and mental health throughout life. Further, it is important that the medical community as well as the public and insurers drop their stereotypic perceptions of those who are obese, and elevate the obese condition to that of other disease conditions along with respect for those who are suffering. Finally, I hope this is a wake up call for public policymakers, as well as public and private funders to make certain comprehensive prevention and treatment resources are made available to all consumers. This study aims to summarize the evidence on the association between psychiatric illness and obesity with particular attention to the strength and direction of association and also the possible moderators in each postulated link. Moreover, psychotherapists can advocate for a more holistic approach to chronic conditions—one that emphasises the importance of mental and emotional wellbeing, social support and self-awareness alongside medical treatment.

Obesity and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

The current cost of treating obesity related health problems is approximately £5 billion per year, a figure set to double by 2050 2. Common health problems related to obesity include a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers 1. Given the psychosocial burden of obesity, psychological status and functioning of the patient presenting for weight loss treatment should be evaluated before the onset of treatment.43 Basic screening can be conducted by several professionals who may be part of a multidisciplinary treatment team. Many of these teams include mental health professional who often conduct more thorough evaluations before the onset of treatment. These professionals also are frequently involved in the delivery of treatment, either lifestyle modification counseling or supportive psychotherapy.

Obesity and eating disorders

As responsibility for the physical health care of people with SMI is often shared between a number of different professionals we have tried to review the literature in a way that is accessible and relevant to professionals both in and beyond the mental health field. A small is alcoholism considered a mental illness minority of individuals with obesity present for weight loss treatment actively abusing substances.2 Active use or abuse is considered a contraindication to weight loss treatment. Approximately 10% of candidates for bariatric surgery report a history of illicit drug use or alcoholism, a percentage higher than seen in the general population. It is known that some people with a BMI in the obese range are putatively ‘healthy,’ and some with a normal BMI have an excess of visceral body fat and are not healthy.