Healthy Weight, Healthy Eating: Understanding and helping individuals with weight- and eating-related difficulties Edie Goldbacher, Ph.D. Department of Psychology La Salle University

2000 Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1990, 2000, 2010 (*BMI 30, or about 30 lbs. overweight for 5’4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%

The multifaceted nature of obesity  Genetics / Biological Factors  Environmental Factors Availability / cost of food / advertising Availability / cost of food / advertising Portion sizes Portion sizes Characteristics of the built environment Characteristics of the built environment  Social Factors Social support Social support Social / cultural / environmental Social / cultural / environmentalstress

Conscious Choices? Willpower?

The multifaceted nature of obesity: Behavioral Factors  Mindless / unintentional eating  Unhelpful eating patterns  Sedentary behaviors  Unhelpful problem-solving  Sensitivity to environmental cues

Targeting obesity  Important to address prevention and treatment  Acknowledge role of biological / genetic factors  Need for focus on environmental factors Policy Policy Built environment Built environment Access and availability of foods and places for physical activity Access and availability of foods and places for physical activity  Treatment of individuals

WEIGHT LOSS TREATMENTS

Behavioral Weight Loss  Self-monitoring  Goal setting  Problem- solving  Stimulus control  Coping  Relapse prevention  Pre-determined # of sessions (12 – 20 weekly, additional if needed)  Pre-set time frame (50 minutes)  Weekly weigh-ins  Nutrition education  Physical activity  Behavior modification  Identify / modify unhelpful thinking patterns

Self-Monitoring I am going to need more information …

Self Monitoring Diet Physical Activity Weight

Stimulus control

Stimulus Control  Learning to pay attention to things that we identify in the environment and how they may alter eating habits.  Pavlov's Dogs-

The multifaceted nature of obesity: Psychological Factors  Emotions / stress  Binge eating Eating disorder Eating disorder Large amount of food, loss of controlLarge amount of food, loss of control Approximately 1-5% of population Approximately 1-5% of population May be associated with weight loss difficulties and may require different / specialized treatment approach May be associated with weight loss difficulties and may require different / specialized treatment approach  Other psychological factors Psychological disorders Psychological disorders

The multifaceted nature of obesity: Bias / Discrimination  Increased by about 60% over past decade  Omnipresent  Common stereotypes and attitudes  Being a victim of bias is associated with physical and psychological consequences  Raise awareness / educate  Address in treatment as precipitant

Our work at La Salle: The community at large La Salle University’s Community Psychological Services: Healthy Eating, Healthy Weight clinic  Low-cost, sliding scale services for community  Individual services Eating and weight-related difficulties Eating and weight-related difficulties Individualized treatment Individualized treatment Improving treatment options, availability and outcomes Improving treatment options, availability and outcomes  Weight loss group

Our work at La Salle: The university community  Furthering our understanding of factors that contribute to eating and weight difficulties in students  Examining weight-related attitudes among health care providers in student health centers

Interested in learning more?  UConn Rudd Food Center  The Obesity Society  The Academy for Eating Disorders  La Salle University’s Community Psychological Services Center Phone: Phone:

Questions? Thank you!