Obesity remains as one of the critical healthcare issues affecting a significant number of people in the world today. Increased uptake of unhealthy foods including junk foods, as well as, lack of adequate physical activity has been noted as some of the risk factors contributing to increased cases of obesity in the world. Healthcare professionals have been on the forefront in trying to find practical solutions that would be of value towards meeting some of the set-out objectives focusing on the health issue in question (Walter & Barnhill, 2013). However, this has remained a significant challenge for health professionals, as the issue of obesity cannot only be dealt with from a medical perspective. Instead, it is essential to establish the psychological aspect of the health issue in a bid to determine overall effectiveness in meeting patients' needs. In that view, this report will engage in an in-depth analysis of the problem, obesity, from the perspective of psychology to help establish a front for weight loss management.
Psychological Aspects of Weight Gain
Obesity, which refers to significant weight gain, can be associated with several notable psychological aspects most of which play a critical role in projecting risk factors for obesity as a medical condition. Some of the mental characters to consider the issue of weight gain includes:
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Depression
Depression, which is a mental health issue, acts as a risk factor for weight gain, as people suffering from depression tend to show important signs of engaging in unhealthy eating habits. In cases where patients are suffering from severe forms of depression, one of the most likely outcomes is that these patients would participate in binge eating. The long-term effect that this would have on the patients is that it paves the way for the accumulation of significant amounts of fat in their body systems. On the other hand, depression also contributes to weight gain, as people suffering from depression tend to prefer the idea of isolation. Thus, this means that most of these individuals will not engage in physical activities, which, in turn, exposes them to a high risk of obesity.
Anxiety
Anxiety also acts as a psychological aspect contributing to increased cases of obesity, as individuals suffering from anxiety disorders tend to have high levels of the stress hormone cortisol. A high level of cortisol in the stomach contributes to a significant change in the digestion process, thus, resulting in a situation where the accumulation of fat levels is significantly higher than in healthy individuals (Ball, Crawford, & Owen, 2000). Additionally, a reduction in physical activity due to an anxiety disorder may also act as a critical contributing factor to the increasing cases of obesity experienced in the healthcare industry.
Psychotherapy (Behavioral Change) for Weight Loss Management (WLM)
Behavioral therapy is a critical element that requires to be incorporated into the interventions that focus on managing obesity. The aspect of behavior change plays an essential role in enhancing weight loss there reducing the rates of obesity. Psychotherapy procedures in weight loss management focus on addressing the behavioral therapy as a critical concern that allows patients with obesity to experience behavioral changes that are focused towards managing the condition. Behavior changes among the obese patients focus on addressing the key factors that are associated with the development of obesity, which results from poor weight management (Spear et al., 2007). The psychotherapy approach targeting behavior changes in weight loss management focus on influencing eating behaviors of an individual and exercise patterns. Eating behavior is one of the critical aspects that interfere with weight management where individuals with poor eating habits tend to add a lot of weight gradually. On the other hand, regular exercise plays a significant role in managing weight thus an essential element in managing diabetes.
To capitalize on enhancing behavior changes in weight loss management, behavioral therapy focuses on various components that aid in effective changes in a patient's behavior concerning lifestyle. The first component that helps in a sufficient change in expression during weight loss management is self-monitoring. Weight loss management requires patients with obesity to capitalize on self-monitoring, which is a critical element in the shift in behavior leading to overcoming obesity (Whaley, Smith, & Hancock, 2011). In this case, patients are required to focus on adopting changes that involve maintaining foods diaries and activity to help in monitoring all elements related to consumption of food this proper enhancing eating and in return promoting weight loss among the obese patients. Another essential component of weight loss management focusing on behavior change is focusing on the speed of consumption and portions of food taken within a given time (Cargill, 2007). Patients with obesity are required to adopt changes regarding moderate use, which is an aspect that helps in managing weight.
According to Brown, Schiraldi, & Wrobleski (2009), obese patients are required to engage in physical exercise to help in effective weight loss management. Based on psychotherapy approach, patients are required to adopt changes regarding their exercise patterns as part of engaging in the effective management of obesity. Another essential element regarding behavioral therapy in weight loss management focuses on behavior modification, which is a crucial element in enhancing social support. Patients, in this case, are urged to focus on changing their behaviors and attitudes regarding the social interactions to engage in social supports that help in creating health benefits among the patients and thus assist patients in weight loss management.
Psychotherapy (Depressive Symptoms) for WLM
In this particular area of psychotherapy, the focus is dealing with some of the depressive symptoms that patients may show the center being towards ensuring that patients are well positions towards achieving weight loss management. As had been identified earlier, depression is one of the leading causes of obesity from a psychological point of view, as most people suffering from depression tend to engage in unhealthy eating habits leading to their exposure to obesity. The idea of participating in psychotherapy focusing on depressive symptoms is to ensure that patients are accorded basic techniques that would be of value to them in their bid towards dealing with issues of weight gain.
The first step to take during psychotherapy is allowing the patient to recognize the link between depressive symptoms and poor eating habits, which, in turn, lead to weight gain. In most cases, patients suffering from depression tend to lack that element of comprehension on the impacts that such instances of depression are having on their health from a medical perspective (Hebl & Turchin, 2005). As a psychologist, one is expected to create an ambiance in which the patient can see the existing relationship between depressive symptoms and poor eating. The expectation is that the patient would be able to work on dealing with the depressive symptoms, as they are exposing him or her to notable health risks.
The second step to engage as part of psychotherapy is providing patients with practical techniques that would allow them to deal with the depressive symptoms, which include walking, running, or biking among other physical activities. The central aspect to note is that each of the events that have been indicated is a physical activity meaning that patients, even though they face the risk of depression, would be in a better position from which to engage in physical activities (Schmidt, 2013). The expected outcome is that such actions will pave the way for the patients to establish a front for weight loss management. Ultimately, these patients would be better placed to meet some of their goals regarding weight considering that they would engage in healthy eating and physical activities.
Psychotherapy (Self Esteem) for WLM
Self-esteem is equally another critical aspect to note when dealing with obese patients, as most of these patients tend to experience significant self-esteem issues due to their body sizes and weight. Mustillo, Budd, & Hendrix (2013) argue that majority of the patients suffering from obesity tend to view themselves as unwanted due to their weight especially in cases where the patients are described as for being ‘fat.' Thus, this means that psychotherapy must take into account the idea of self-esteem as part of weight loss management to help in achieving some of the set-out goals. As part of psychotherapy, the primary approach is trying to ensure that the patients enhance their self-esteem levels, as this may have an impact on their mental health. Psychologists are expected to create a practical approach that would allow obese patients to maintain a high self-esteem level with the focus being towards protecting them from increased risks of obesity.
The first step to take as part of psychotherapy is to create an avenue from which the patients would be able to appreciate their bodies regardless of their weight. In this step, the critical focus is trying to ensure that the patients understand that although they are overweight, they are not different from others. Herington, Dawson, & Draper (2014) argue that one of the critical challenges associated with the idea of dealing with obese patients is paving the way for them to accept themselves. From that perspective, it is clear that dealing with the issue of self-esteem may be of great value in ensuring that these patients would be in a better position from which to accept themselves. Ultimately, this may be of great benefit towards reducing cases where such patients tend to have low self-esteem levels.
The second step is ensuring that the patients receive support from their immediate friends and family, as this would be of great value towards building their self-esteem levels significantly. Although patients may work out their self-esteem issues, one of the critical aspects to consider is that most of these patients tend to require support from multiple perspectives. The support they receive will act as a determinant of whether the patients would be in a position allowing them to build on their self-esteem levels (Viner & Cole, 2005). As a psychologist, the critical element of focus is ensuring that the patients have people, who would provide them with the psychological support that they would need as part of their weight loss journey. From a mental perspective, this is expected to change the way these patients view themselves with the focus being towards improving their self-esteem levels.
Body Image Perception of Weight Loss
The perception of body image is a critical element that plays an essential role in the weight loss management. King et al. (2016) argue that one of the key challenges in dealing with weight loss management is on the fact that most of the obese patients tend to have negative views on their body image perceptions. The perceptions are driven by the stereotypes created within the social institutions focusing on the patients considered as being ‘fat,' which, in turn, creates the need for having to work on practical approaches to help change such perceptions. In most cases, the negative attitude of body image tends to affect the obese patients psychologically, thus, contributing to further complications associated with this health issue.
In dealing with the body image perception, the first approach is to ensure that the women understand that there is not standardized body image in the society. Gouveia, Frontini, Canavarro, & Moreira (2014) indicate that exposure of people to stereotypes through the media on the area of body image creates the negative view on the fact that people are expected to have a specific body image. However, this is a view that is important to disown as part of ensuring that the obese patients can achieve positive outcomes in their bid towards dealing with obesity as a medical issue. In other words, psychotherapy is expected to provide these patients with a positive perception reflecting on their body image.
The second aspect to consider when reflecting on the issue of body image is that most of these patients tend to believe that they would not be able to achieve a specific body image. The main idea of psychotherapy is to provide these patients with an avenue from which they would be able to understand that their achievement of a specific body image would depend wholly on their efforts. Psychologists are expected to create a platform from which these patients can achieve some form of understanding on the value associated with working hard towards meeting specific targets. However, Huang, Huffman, & Tegene (2011) point out that the critical element of focus is ensuring that these patients understand the importance of having to set their targets as part of their weight loss management approaches. The outcome is that this would mean that the patients would be in a better avenue from which to meet some of their expected goals depending on their efforts to achieve the said goals.
Conclusion
In summary, obesity remains as one of the critical healthcare issues affecting a significant number of people in the world today. It is essential to establish the psychological aspect of the health issue in a bid to determine overall effectiveness in meeting patients' needs. The element of behavior change plays a critical role in enhancing weight loss there reducing the rates of obesity. The first component that helps in a sufficient change in behavior during weight loss management is self-monitoring. Patients suffering from depression tend to lack that element of comprehension on the impacts that such cases of depression are having on their health from a medical perspective. Although patients may work out their self-esteem issues, one of the critical aspects to consider is that most of these patients tend to require support from multiple perspectives.
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