200 Obesity Treatment
Yet neither are simple “magic” solutions as they come with their own risks
to health and side effects. But both drugs and surgery have implications for
understanding the mechanisms behind weight loss. Even though these are
nonpsychological interventions, research indicates that they both influence
the ways in which an individual thinks and behaves. It may be possible
to draw lessons from these nonpsychological management approaches to
improve existing behavioral interventions. Possible lessons are as follows:
Things to Avoid
- Avoid the negative consequences of dieting.
- Avoid denial.
- Avoid making food more pleasurable.
- Avoid the benefits of eating.
This can achieved by interventions which emphasize what can be eaten rather
than what can’t and by focusing on foods which are good rather than those
which are bad.
Things to Do
- Make small, low-effort changes to habits.
- Explore the function of food.
- Reduce the function of eating.
- Find substitutes for eating.
- Create immediate costs of overeating.
- Create immediate benefits of healthy eating.
- Encourage a behavioral model of obesity.
- Empower people to take control.
or- Take away their choice by changing the environment.
Eating occurs because at the time of eating, the benefits of eating outweigh
the costs. Any intervention, therefore, needs to address this balance. To date,
many interventions make this balance tip further in favor of overeating. If
dietary interventions are to be used, then they should incorporate the lessons
that can be learned from nondietary interventions.
In summary, to answer the question “Should obesity be treated at all?”
it is necessary to consider the following points: