Vol 8, No 4 (2012)
Prace poglądowe
Published online: 2013-02-08
Alexithymia in obese patients
Agnieszka Żak-Gołąb, Radosław Tomaski, Magdalena Olszanecka-Glinianowicz, Jerzy Chudek
Endokrynol. Otył. Zab. Przem. Mat 2012;8(4):124-129.
Vol 8, No 4 (2012)
Prace poglądowe
Published online: 2013-02-08
Abstract
Obesity is a chronic disease that prevalence has increased significantly
in recent years. Despite getting a better understanding of
factors influencing the development of obesity, long-term effects of
its treatment are still unsatisfactory. A significant influence on the
effectiveness of the treatment of obesity may have its psychological
aspects, which are often unrecognized and not considered in
the treatment process. A specific psychopathological features of
obesity have not been yet found. Large epidemiological studies
have shown a higher incidence of anxiety, depression, and eating
disorders in obese.
Alexithymia is define as difficulty to identify and express emotions,
paucity of fantasy life and operatory thinking. Alexithymia was initially
described in patients with psychosomatic diseases, but later
its’ more frequent occurrence was also found in other groups of
patients with mental disorders, among them — patients with eating
disorders. There are few studies which analyze the association of
alexithymia and obesity, and their results are inconsistent, partially
due to heterogeneity of the causes of obesity.
The paper discusses the potential role of alexithymia in the development,
course and treatment of obesity. Therapeutic implications
of the coexistence of alexithymia and obesity were indicated.
Abstract
Obesity is a chronic disease that prevalence has increased significantly
in recent years. Despite getting a better understanding of
factors influencing the development of obesity, long-term effects of
its treatment are still unsatisfactory. A significant influence on the
effectiveness of the treatment of obesity may have its psychological
aspects, which are often unrecognized and not considered in
the treatment process. A specific psychopathological features of
obesity have not been yet found. Large epidemiological studies
have shown a higher incidence of anxiety, depression, and eating
disorders in obese.
Alexithymia is define as difficulty to identify and express emotions,
paucity of fantasy life and operatory thinking. Alexithymia was initially
described in patients with psychosomatic diseases, but later
its’ more frequent occurrence was also found in other groups of
patients with mental disorders, among them — patients with eating
disorders. There are few studies which analyze the association of
alexithymia and obesity, and their results are inconsistent, partially
due to heterogeneity of the causes of obesity.
The paper discusses the potential role of alexithymia in the development,
course and treatment of obesity. Therapeutic implications
of the coexistence of alexithymia and obesity were indicated.
Keywords
obesity; alexithymia; binge eating syndrome; depression; anxiety
Keywords
obesity
alexithymia
binge eating syndrome
depression
anxiety
Authors
Agnieszka Żak-Gołąb
Radosław Tomaski
Magdalena Olszanecka-Glinianowicz
Jerzy Chudek