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open access

Vol 8, No 4 (2012)
Prace poglądowe
Published online: 2013-02-08
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Alexithymia in obese patients

Agnieszka Żak-Gołąb, Radosław Tomaski, Magdalena Olszanecka-Glinianowicz, Jerzy Chudek
Endokrynol. Otył. Zab. Przem. Mat 2012;8(4):124-129.

open access

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.
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Keywords

obesity; alexithymia; binge eating syndrome; depression; anxiety

About this article
Title

Alexithymia in obese patients

Journal

Endocrinology, Obesity and Metabolic Disorders

Issue

Vol 8, No 4 (2012)

Pages

124-129

Published online

2013-02-08

Page views

1693

Article views/downloads

3276

Bibliographic record

Endokrynol. Otył. Zab. Przem. Mat 2012;8(4):124-129.

Keywords

obesity
alexithymia
binge eating syndrome
depression
anxiety

Authors

Agnieszka Żak-Gołąb
Radosław Tomaski
Magdalena Olszanecka-Glinianowicz
Jerzy Chudek

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