Eating Disorders: Obesity

The principal causative factor in obesity is eating behaviour. Unfavourable habits like eating large meals, a preponderance of fatty foodstuffs or eating titbits are part of the problem. In many cases, obesity develops or is upheld by using eating for maintaining an emotional equilibrium. Negative emotional states, such as sadness, anger, boredom or stress, rather than hunger or appetite, become triggers for eating, which in turn provides distraction and dampens the negative feelings. As a consequence, more effective problem solving skills are less and less applied, or not even developed in the first place. The lack of applicable problem solving skills, and the consequences of overeating and gaining weight, however, give rise to further negative emotions: a typical vicious circle ensues.