Obesity is a serious health problemworldwide. In the United States, the number of obese people (defined as BMI>30) has reached epidemic proportions, affecting approximately one-quarter of the American population. The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, and the percentage of people who are overweight has steeply risen more than 30% since 1980 (Bray, 1998). Data fromthe National Center for Health Statistics indicate an uneven distribution of obesity, with African-American and Mexican-American females most affected (Flegal, Carroll, & Kucfzmarski, 1998). Children and adolescents are not immune to this epidemic. Data suggest that over 20% of children are currently overweight, and 30% of these individuals become obese adults later in life.
Excess weight increases the risk of serious medical consequences such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and some forms of cancer. It has been argued that the “preponderance of evidence suggests that even mild overweight is probably associated with some increase in mortality risk" (Solomon, Willett, & Manson, 1995). In addition to the tremendous health risks, the financial cost of obesity is staggering. Obesity-related problems are estimated to cost the United States 39.3 billion dollars annually (Colditz,
1998). Given this backdrop, it is not surprising that the study of obesity has received an increasing amount of attention fromlocal and federal policy-makers, health care professionals, and researchers.
Despite the well-established relationship between medical risks and obesity, the relationship between psychological functioning and obesity remains less clear. Common beliefs implicating psychological distress as a contributing factor in the development of obesity has not been well supported by research (Hill & Williams, 1998). Several large- scale studies, each involving at least 500 subjects, found no consistent evidence to support the claimthat severely obese persons show higher levels of psychopathology than normal-weight controls (Moore, Standard, & Srole, 1996; Silverstone, 1968; Hallstrom& Noppa, 1982; Kittel, Rustin, Dramaix, DeBacker, & Kornitzer, 1978; Hill & Williams, 1998; Stunkard &Wadden, 1992). Wadden, et al. (2001) contend that a substantial minority of extremely obese patients seeking bariatric surgery present with significant emotional complications.
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Excess weight increases the risk of serious medical consequences such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and some forms of cancer. It has been argued that the “preponderance of evidence suggests that even mild overweight is probably associated with some increase in mortality risk" (Solomon, Willett, & Manson, 1995). In addition to the tremendous health risks, the financial cost of obesity is staggering. Obesity-related problems are estimated to cost the United States 39.3 billion dollars annually (Colditz,
1998). Given this backdrop, it is not surprising that the study of obesity has received an increasing amount of attention fromlocal and federal policy-makers, health care professionals, and researchers.
Despite the well-established relationship between medical risks and obesity, the relationship between psychological functioning and obesity remains less clear. Common beliefs implicating psychological distress as a contributing factor in the development of obesity has not been well supported by research (Hill & Williams, 1998). Several large- scale studies, each involving at least 500 subjects, found no consistent evidence to support the claimthat severely obese persons show higher levels of psychopathology than normal-weight controls (Moore, Standard, & Srole, 1996; Silverstone, 1968; Hallstrom& Noppa, 1982; Kittel, Rustin, Dramaix, DeBacker, & Kornitzer, 1978; Hill & Williams, 1998; Stunkard &Wadden, 1992). Wadden, et al. (2001) contend that a substantial minority of extremely obese patients seeking bariatric surgery present with significant emotional complications.
Download PDF Ebook
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