13.6 Psychological Explanations for Obesity

• Obesity is characterized by the accumulation of excess body fat
• Eating behaviors are patterns and habits related to food intake.
• Match the psychological factor with its influence on obesity:

  Motivations ↔️ Underlying drives for food choices

  Eating Behaviors ↔️ Patterns and habits of food intake

  Environmental Factors ↔️ Societal and environmental influences
• The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a common measure to determine obesity
• Order the cognitive factors influencing eating behavior based on their impact:

  1️⃣ Hunger Perception

  2️⃣ Self-Regulation

  3️⃣ Cognitive Biases

  4️⃣ Learned Attitudes
• What does misinterpreting bodily signals of hunger affect?

  Appetite regulation
• Self-regulation is the ability to control impulses and adhere to dietary goals
• Cognitive biases can lead to choices based on recent information rather than nutritional value.
• How do learned attitudes towards food shape dietary preferences?

  Determine long-term habits
• Emotional eating occurs when individuals consume food in response to feelings
• What type of foods do stressed individuals often crave?

  High-fat, high-sugar foods
• Sadness can lead to the consumption of carbohydrate-rich foods to increase serotonin levels.
• Match the psychological factor with its influence on obesity:

  Eating Behaviors ↔️ Food intake patterns

  Motivations ↔️ Underlying drives for food choices

  Environmental Factors ↔️ Societal and environmental influences
• Cognitive factors such as hunger perception and self-regulation play a crucial role in shaping eating behaviors
• What does hunger perception determine regarding eating behavior?

  When and how much food
• Emotional eating involves consuming food in response to feelings rather than hunger.
• What is the effect of stress hormones on hunger signals?

  Disrupt normal signals
• Social and cultural influences shape food habits, preferences, and body image perceptions
• Early eating habits learned from family often dictate lifelong food choices.
• What are the two main categories of influences on weight gain mentioned in the study material?

  Social and cultural
• Social influences on weight gain include eating habits influenced by family and friends
• Cultural influences on weight gain involve societal norms around food and body image.
• What do both social and cultural influences on weight gain contribute to?

  Overeating or unhealthy eating habits
• Stress can trigger overeating by disrupting hormone balances and increasing cravings for high-calorie foods
• Effective stress management can help support weight management.
• What are the three factors influencing obesity according to the study material?

  Eating behaviors, motivations, environmental factors
• Hunger perception refers to how individuals interpret bodily signals of hunger
• Self-regulation is the ability to control eating impulses and adhere to dietary plans.
• What are three key emotional drivers of emotional eating?

  Stress, sadness, boredom
• Match the emotion with its impact on food choices:

  Stress ↔️ Craving comfort foods

  Sadness ↔️ Eating sweets or carbs

  Boredom ↔️ Snacking on available foods
• Stress can trigger overeating due to hormonal imbalances and a metabolic slowdown
• What are two effective psychological interventions for weight management?

  CBT and DBT
• Maintaining privacy is an ethical consideration in addressing obesity psychologically.
• What does non-maleficence aim to avoid during psychological treatment for obesity?

  Harm to patients