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

Obesity is a multifactorial disorder involving genetic, psychological, biochemical, environmental, social and economic factors and represents an increasingly major public health issue on a epidemiological level among adults and children in both developed and developing countries. A comprehensive assessment is recommended, examinig 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 psychoterapeutic 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.