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Psychologists are still dealing with the decision to add obesity to the same diagnostic tool as anorexia and bulimia, labeling it as a psychologically based eating disorder. Obesity and its many consequences will be one of the main themes being discussed at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association which started August 1st in Orlando, Florida.
With obesity numbers increasing for both children and adults, the concern is that there is not enough being done to combat the problem. Many questions have arisen including why so many more people are obese than ever before as well as why so many of those people are unable to lose weight even with their best efforts. According to most research on the topic, obesity is more resistant to the usual types of treatment now than it was five decades ago.
One of the most serious problems is modern living. Food, once only found in a few places, including home gardens, road side stands and the main grocery store is now abundant and seemingly everywhere. Even in smaller towns, around the clock food availability is the norm. In addition to all of that food, there is food advertising that seems to put various foods in the mind's forefront all day long.
Our bodies have been retrained to think differently about foods as well. In the past, people usually ate three meals at fairly regulated times. We have been retrained to think that we need to eat small meals, all day long or the concept of grazing. For some people, that may mean healthy meals, but for others, it is a green light to eat high fat or sugary foods frequently throughout the day. In addition, we also think we should be able to eat late into the night, a concept that some experts believe leads to weight gain. Others argue that timing has nothing to do with metabolism.
Researchers, who have published journal entries ahead of the conference have linked other issues of modern living with weight gain. David Allison, from the Nutrition and Obesity Research Center, says that his work has shown that sleep issues, especially lack of sleep may increase the risk of obesity. Other studies echo those findings, showing that people who are not getting enough sleep are more likely to consume nearly three hundred more calories the next day. Another problem, according to Allison, is the advanced age of mothers when they give birth which dramatically increases the risk of childhood obesity.
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Interesting article, ended rather abruptly for me though, would have liked to read more info or pointed to more info. I can see how it would be considered a psychology issue our brains have become deluged with incoming information on what, why, when, where and how to eat properly, that we've stopped listening to our bodies and rely on society to tell us how to take care of ourselves when it comes to nutrition. Too much junk in the marketplace.
Hi Johnney, you had some valid points about the psychology of overeating. We have learned to follow the clock and learned about "socially appropriate" times to eat. However, not everyone who is overweight has gained weight for psychological reasons. Amy said brain chemicals can be responsible for overeating, and that also makes a lot of sense.
It's a real problem in today's world. The cause of it is probably a combination of many things like you have stated in the article. Great job. I guess I wonder why it is a psychology issue! It is always interesting to me how the world of psychology will come out with new disorders and then comes new treatments and pharmaceuticals to go with those treatments. Thanks for the great information. Got me to thinking!!
Your article was interesting. However, your article talked more about our culture and lifestyle in terms of obesity rather than focusing on the psychological causes of obesity. I can understand why people might think they can eat small meals during the day. I was surprised to read some people think it means they can eat late at night. Most of the research I have read says it is bad for you. I don't think obesity is always a psychological disorder. There are many reasons for obesity, and it is not always due to eating for emotional reasons.
I think I may follow this article up because people think that by the word "psychology" it means simply emotional or mental issues related to eating and that is not the case. For some people, there are issues with the chemical receptors inside of the brain that do not trigger correctly- they do not feel full even though they have eaten way more food than they need. They may not feel hungry at all but force themselves to eat because of habit. It is very complex, but unfortunately there are many people who are fighting against having obesity listed in the DSM-IV as an eating disorder.
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