Psychological Aspects and Rehabilitation Protocols

Research on psychological dimensions of obesity evolved considerably in recent years. This chapter aims at underlying the main psychological aspects, such as discrimination and stigma, psychopathological complications, correlations between obesity and personality disorders, eating disorders (particularly Binge Eating Disorders), mood disorders and stress-anxiety. A brief overview about the connection between obesity and addiction is also provided. Then quality of life and self-esteem in obesity are discussed. The second part of the chapter aims at describing the main psychological rehabilitation protocols for obesity, according to the most evaluated approaches such as cognitive-behavioural, interpersonal, systemic-strategic ones. Particularly attention is dedicated to the transtheoretical model stages of change (TTM SOC). Some promising treatments are the mindfulness approach as described by Kabat-Zinn and the EMDR based techniques. Finally a section is dedicated to the promotion of collaborative rehabilitation protocols with in-patient and out-patient settings using telemonitoring for the continuity of care (the TECNOB project), discussing the psychological components crucial in technology-based remote weight-loss interventions. In conclusion future directions for research and practice in clinical psychology for obesity rehabilitation are discussed.