Insecure Attachment and Trauma in Obesity and Bariatric Surgery

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss an aspect of the psychosocial context of obesity that transcends diagnostic categories and is especially relevant to the management of severely obese patients. In particular, we will describe the relational context of obesity and the importance of insecure attachment and interpersonal trauma. In doing so we will try to make the case that patient centered care (and perhaps surgical outcomes) can be improved by attending to the consequences of trauma and to ways in which the treatment of obesity is influenced by feelings of interpersonal security or insecurity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)