Psychosomatic Medicine 14:337-346 (1952)
© 1952 American Psychosomatic Society

Psychological Aspects of Reducing

¹ Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University New York

The condition of overweight is generally considered to be undesirable and is the object of continuous efforts at reducing.

From a clinical point of view it is necessary to differentiate between two types of over-weight: a constitutional type which is an expression of a variation in body build, and a symptomatic type which is an expression of emotional maladjustment and leads to severe degrees of obesity.

Success or failure in reducing depends, among other factors, on the meaning of weight reduction for the patient. To the adequately adjusted overweight person it is a rational task with the main goal of losing weight. Even then it is not easy and simple and many patients need support and supervision.

To the emotionally disturbed obese person weight reduction has an irrational meaning, namely, that of fulfilling exaggerated day-dreams of success and achievement. For such people reducing cannot be considered a harmless procedure. If rigidly enforced it may precipitate serious mental disturbance, even psychosis. Weight reduction should be preceded by a corrective appraisal of the aspiration level.