The growing American waistline is constantly in the news, and a handful of stories over the past few days caught my eye. First, the eyebrow raising headline “Fat People Not More Jolly, Study Says” wrote about new work detailing the link between obesity and mood and anxiety disorders. Essentially, there does appear to be a greater incidence of these conditions for obese individuals, although a causal relationship has yet to be demonstrated. Furthermore, a growing theory implicates poor sleep habits and air conditioning as potential causes of obesity, adding to a quickly growing list.

Finally, the terminology of “fat”, “obese”, and “overweight” was the subject of another piece on the debate surrounding how medical professionals bring up the subject of weight with patients. The same issue holds for psychologists who often have to work with people that have body image concerns, unhealthy diet and eating patterns, and self-esteem issues revolving around their weight. My perspective is that there is an empathic and caring way to discuss these topics and maintain the focus on the client’s best interest rather than making a judgement. The key is in the strength of the therapeutic alliance.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 4 Jul 2006
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.