BEHAVIORAL PECULIARITIES IN PATIENTS WITH SURPLUS BODY MASS AND OBESITY

Abstract

Background: Eating in obesity represents behavioral systems more powerful than conscious self-control. Aim: To study the obese patients’ behavior with the help of clinical-psychopathological and personal style criteria. Materials and methods: A total of 149 patients (aged 19-69 years), who sought medical help due to obesity or overweight were examined. Their physical condition was satisfactory and concomitant somatic diseases were compensated. Patients’ behavior was assessed by diagnostic criteria ICD-10 as well as with a Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (psychological testing). Results: It was established that psychical impairments existed in 98 (65.8%) patients. The anxiety disorders (in 65 patients, 43.6%) and affective ones (in 41 patients, 31.5%) were noted most frequently. Factor analysis of the psychological test data revealed 5 main styles of behavior in patients with overweight and obesity: borderline, hyperthymic, dysthymic, sensitive, and undifferentiated. Neither these behavioral styles nor the frequency of disorders corresponded to the degree of obesity. Conclusion: Disturbances of eating self-regulation in obesity are associated with different behavioral styles, which are not specific for mental disorders only. These behavioral styles are described in the study as well as corresponding psychological mechanisms of overeating.

Keywords

• surplus body mass
• obesity
• behavior
• psychical impairments
• behavioral style