OBESITY AND ITS PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS

Obesity and its Psychological Effects

Obesity and its Psychological Effects

Introduction

The leading causes of death for British people are heart disease, cancer, stroke, accidents, and lung disease and these are directly linked with obesity (Zuckerman, 2005). This pattern of disease is very different from the leading causes of death at the turn of the century in 1900: pneumonia/influenza, tuberculosis, and intestinal disease (Alcalay, 2006). Health psychologists study the causes and methods of strategically decreasing unhealthful behaviours towards obesity (e.g., smoking, dietary fat consumption, unsafe sex) and increasing healthful behaviours (e.g., regular exercise, practicing stress management) to prevent and treat disease. This paper covers theories and models, research methods, and applications of health psychology which we may utilise to understand psychological approach towards obesity.

Theoretical Approach

The current Western model of health relies heavily on biomedical models and typically separates the mind from the body. Health psychology recognises the importance of anatomy and physiology in the diagnosis, understanding, and intervention of diseases and disorders like obesity. However, health psychologists focus on psychological and social variables and recognise the reciprocal relationship among biological, psychological, and social influences on health and illness. A health psychologist considers the interaction of biological variables such as genetic predisposition or immune system response; psychological and behavioural variables such as perceptions of stressors, coping strategies, and lifestyle; and social variables such as interpersonal relationships, culture, and environment in theorising about causes of wellness versus illness (obesity) and for developing interventions.

Social Cognitive Theory and Related Models

Theories are broad and are used to organise complex relationships between variables. Models typically utilise variables outlined in theories but are not as broad as theories and yield specific and testable hypotheses. A frequently utilised model in the field of health psychology related to obesity that emphasises personal perceptions outlined by Bandura's social cognitive theory is Becker's (1974) health beliefs model (HBM). In the HBM, beliefs about the threat of an illness relate to engagement in health-related behaviours. Beliefs about illness threat include both beliefs about personal susceptibility to illness and beliefs about the severity of consequences related to illness (e.g., obesity can result in stroke and heart diseases). In addition, beliefs about the likelihood of particular health behaviours (e.g., increasing exercise or decreasing sugar intake can give a check to obesity) resulting in positive health outcomes (e.g., reduced risk of obesity) and beliefs about barriers to initiating or maintaining particular health behaviours relate to actual health behaviours.

Health Policy

In another applied arena, health psychologists may play a role in creating and changing public health policies. Alcalay (2006) says that according to the NHS (Richard, 2007), rates of obesity have increased across the last two decades, with over 60 percent of the United States population being overweight or obese and over 30 percent of the population meeting criteria for obesity. Many variables likely contribute to increased rates of obesity and associated health risks including sedentary lifestyles and diet. However, despite increased awareness of the health dangers associated with high-fat diets and trans fat ...