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Non-surgical Weight Loss and Body Image Changes in Children, Adolescents, and Adults

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Body Image, Eating, and Weight

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Abstract

Obesity is a multifactorial disorder involving genetic, psychological, biochemical, environmental, social and economic factors and represents an increasingly major public health issue on an epidemiological level among adults and children in both developed and developing countries. A comprehensive assessment is recommended, examining comorbidities, psychological correlates, and treatments history. Treatment in adults and children should be conducted through a multi-disciplinary multi-step approach including lifestyle, dietary, physical activity, psychological, pharmacological, and surgical interventions.

In patients with obesity, higher rates of psychopathology are found, including mood disorders and eating disorders. Body image disturbances, low self-esteem, and internalization of society’s emphasis on the importance of physical appearance are some of the major domains involved. Psychological and psychotherapeutic interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectic-behavioral therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy are therefore indicated and should take into account the multi-directional relationship between dieting, weight loss, physical activity, changes in body image, and self-esteem.

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Acknowledgement

Dott. Gabriela Dorati contributed to this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    Federico Amianto

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  1. Federico Amianto
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Correspondence to Federico Amianto .

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  1. Formerly University Sapienza of Rome, Editor-in-Chief of Eating and Weight Disorders, Campiglia Marittima (LI), Italy

    Massimo Cuzzolaro

  2. Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Torino, Italy

    Secondo Fassino

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Amianto, F. (2018). Non-surgical Weight Loss and Body Image Changes in Children, Adolescents, and Adults. In: Cuzzolaro, M., Fassino, S. (eds) Body Image, Eating, and Weight. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90817-5_16

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