Obesity

Abstract

In the past two decades, the prevalence of adolescent obesity has risen greatly and it has become a major health problem in both developed and developing countries (Ebbeling et al. in Lancet 360:473–482, 2002). Obesity is associated with number of factors such as genetics, environment, psychosocial, eating habits and lifestyle. With the increasing prevalence and the recognition of the potential physical and psychosocial consequences of obesity, the need for evidence-based treatment has become an important issue for health care professionals. Recent literature supports the use and effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for adolescent obesity. With this background, the present chapter has tried to target most of the obesity-related issues in adolescents with the help of different evidence-based cognitive behavioural techniques. Present chapter has also described the comprehensive assessment of obese adolescents as it helps us to understand the nature of the problem and need of the target group. Session wise process of cognitive behavioural therapy that includes multiple components such as psycho-education, goal setting, self-monitoring, stimulus control, lifestyle intervention, cognitive restructuring, problem-solving and relapse prevention for adolescent obesity has been elaborated in the chapter.