Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the increasing phenomenon of obesity, not yet considered as an alimentary behaviour disease, but only as a somatic condition. The treatment of obesity is nowadays largely based on psychological approaches directed to produce modifications in lifestyle and not only in alimentary behaviour. Some strategies for prevention are discussed, considering that all the examined studies emphasize four factors as the determinants for the increase of overweight: excessive caloric supply, lack of physical activity, difficulty in recognizing consequences of ponder excess, difficulty in modifying consolidated behavioural habits. For this reason, a substantial change in the perception of the phenomenon, and of cultural and psycho educational politics are needed.

Keywords: Obesity; Lifestyle; Bulimia; Binge eating; Anorexia