Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Current Paths in the Management of Obesity

The treatment of obesity and its related chronic symptoms is one of the major issues that\r\nworld healthcare systems are facing today. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of\r\nthe most effective therapies in the treatment of dysfunctional eating behaviors. In the first\r\npart of the chapter, the phenomenon of obesity will be introduced; subsequently, the role of\r\nCBT into obesity treatment will be underlined. CBT’s core strategies will be presented and\r\nanalyzed: goal setting, self-monitoring, stimulus control, problem solving technique, and\r\ncognitive restructuring technique. The use of these strategies and related results is a major\r\nissue, emphasizing the need for further studies on the phenomenon of obesity, given the\r\nexcellent results available in the short term, with significant weight loss, but the difficulties\r\nin keeping the results achieved in the long run. Since obesity is a chronic condition, CBT\r\ntreatments must focus on different outcomes, considering weight loss as a consequence of a\r\nchange in the individual’s eating style rather than as a major and only result to be pursued.\r\nFinally, we will take into account the topic of motivation in the psychological treatment of\r\nobesity since patient’s motivation assessment seems to be a major prerequisite for successful\r\nweight loss therapy.