Psychological Co-morbidities of Obesity

Abstract

The association between obesity and psychological disorders has gained attention as the prevalence of obesity has rapidly increased in recent decades. Prevalence of obesity in people with psychological disorders has grown as fast or faster than in the general population (Allison et al., 2009), which points to a growing health disparity in psychological-disordered populations. Not only are people with various psychological disorders disproportionately affected by obesity, but obesity appears to increase risk for various psychological disorders. The aim of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive overview of the associations between obesity and psychological disorders, potential mechanisms underlying these associations, and assessment and treatment of individuals with these co-morbidities, including clinical challenges. Gaps in the research literature will be identified and recommendations for future made. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)