New research recently discovered that at present, the recommendation given to obese patients is to "eat less and nutritious food," not to mention, spend more time exercising.
Nevertheless, according to The Discourse media platform, in some cases, some choose obesity surgery. According to Trine Tetlie Eik-Nes, who has led the project, a strong need for interdisciplinary treatment is seen that considers the psychological characteristics of morbid obesity much more than what's currently taking place.
Eik-Nes, an associate professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, added that the treatment they have been using is based on teaching patients to be aware of why they are overeating, followed by physical exercises and group discussions.
Overeating
This report defines overeating as "repeated episodes" where a person eats far beyond normal. In the study published the Frontiers in Endocrinology journal, 42 adults participated.
These were those who had visited the Obesity Outpatient Clinic at St. Olavs Hospital to seek help. All of these study volunteers had third-degree obesity.
It means they had a body mass index or BMI of 40 or higher or second-degree obesity with additional issues. The majority of the participants were women. Six of them had undergone obesity surgery.
The associate professor believes the insight and treatment of obesity and overeating have been quite slim. She added the explanation is more complicated than merely having a big appetite, genetic vulnerability, and "laziness."
Possible Causes of Overeating
An international study specifies that between 30 and 50 percent of people who have a high degree of overeating seeking obesity treatment have psychological problems around the loss of control like overeating that lasts an entire day, a related Medical Xpress report specified.
In their study, the researchers said, overeating is frequently linked to internal and external stressors. The origins can be numerous, not to mention multifaceted like - childhood trauma, negative thinking about oneself, contempt for the body, relationship issues with parents, and social struggles.
Many people feel stigmatized due to their large body, within their family, at school, at their workplace, and anywhere in society.
Eik-Nes explained food works to numb and helps deal with daily life. One who has security, good support, "decent finances, and a manageable daily life," there is no need to regulate the emotions so much with alcohol, food, or other stimuli.
Improved Mental Health
The patients encountered an almost 30-percent decrease in overeating episodes and a substantial improvement in their emotional problems such as anxiety, inner turmoil, irritability, and depression.
Additionally, the patients said they felt far less limited in their social activities, explained Eik-Nes. The research did not gauge weight loss, although the impression was not that a good number of the participants had gone through some weight loss.
The researchers said an essential point of the study was to examine how a treatment spanning both physical and mental health can work.
Eik-Nes said their interdisciplinary method worked effectively. Just the fact that all participants completed the research is quite favorable.
She added, they cannot say anything about the long-term impact of the treatment yet. They hope the said study can lay the foundation for a more extensive project on morbid obesity and psychological illnesses.
Related information about the effects of overeating is shown on Questions for Science's YouTube video below:
Check out more news and information on Obesity in Science Times.
