Psychology of Obesity
OUR BARIATRIC PSYCHOLOGIST
LP Marisol Closed Lagoons
Bariatric Psychology
In addition to the risk to physical health, obesity is associated with social and psychological problems, a decrease in quality of life and poor eating habits.
a) Social problems consist mainly of: decreased self-esteem, discrimination, prejudice, social isolation, unsatisfactory relationships and problems at work. Obese patients often do not feel understood, sometimes even by health professionals. Sometimes, routine activities can be a constant struggle, such as: crossing one's legs, finding a seat on public transport, putting on one's socks or finding clothes that one likes.
b) Psychological disorders are present in 8 out of 10 patients with obesity. To a greater or lesser degree of severity, these include: depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. These disorders are the cause and consequence of weight gain, producing a vicious circle around the person, and leading to frustration, anger, disappointment and feelings of helplessness in patients trying to lose weight.
c) The social and psychological disorders, as well as the physical ailments caused by obesity, are strongly associated with a decrease in quality of life. This problem is often not accepted by patients, which leads to a deteriorated quality of life that the patient perceives as natural or normal.
d) Obesity has multiple causes, such as genetic, physical, emotional, cultural, among others. All these causes translate into the action of bad eating habits, which cause the problem of obesity. The most common eating habits in patients with obesity are:
- Rigid diets, alternating with loss of inhibition, anxiety attacks and compulsive "binges."
- Frequently snack on high-calorie snacks, such as peanuts or cookies.
- Craving sugar, such as cakes, bread or chocolate.
- Higher caloric intake in the evening or night hours, with periods of morning fasting.
- Comer rapidamente los alimentos.
- High-calorie drinks, and little intake of calorie-free drinks.
Psychological intervention uses cognitive methods, tips, behavioral reinforcement and self-stimulation to help understand and combat the social and psychological changes inherent to obesity, in order to achieve an improvement in eating habits and thus improve the quality of life.
¿En qué consiste el soporte psicológico?
Sesión de inducción preoperatoria
The PREOPERATIVE INDUCTION session addresses important topics prior to your procedure such as: Emotions, Sabotage, Anxiety, When personalized support is needed, Psychological follow-up, among others. This session takes place on Sundays at 10:00 am (Mexico City time) through a virtual platform and lasts approximately 40 minutes. It is a requirement for all patients to take the session before their surgery. The preoperative induction session is included in the package prior to your procedure. Patients who, for different reasons, could not take the session before their surgery, may have a personalized psychological evaluation prior to their surgery or even in the hospital for an extra cost.
Online group sessions
Group sessions are the basis of psychological follow-up. They aim to reinforce typical aspects and frequent psychological situations in patients undergoing a bariatric procedure. Support will come from two vectors, one, your psychologist and two, other patients who will share their experiences. Group follow-up sessions are held every month via a virtual platform and are included in the package prior to your procedure. See the monthly session calendar.
Personalized sessions
Personalized sessions can be held prior to your procedure or as a postoperative follow-up. These sessions are intended to address issues that are indirectly related to the process and that are mitigating to it, such as: relationship problems, work psychology, sexual abuse, child abuse, emotional wounds, grief, among others. Personalized sessions have an extra cost.
Support group
Our Facebook support group is constantly active, with patients sharing their experiences, questions, concerns, fears and other situations that are beneficial to everyone. In our support group you can interact publicly or privately with other patients who have undergone or are considering undergoing a surgical procedure to treat obesity. Join the support group.
Specialists by location
List of specialists in psychology and psychiatry, with specialties in different areas that can be accessed as personalized sessions.
Educational content
Access to educational content through videos, live sessions and blogs. Topics of general interest related to emotional management and anxiety about eating. Access to educational content in psychology.
