The importance of psychological factors in the development and treatment of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes

Abstract:

Since the overconsumption of food leads to serious health consequences, including morbidity from a wide variety of chronic diseases and premature mortality, the marketing techniques of which we are unaware should be considered in the same light as the invisible carcinogens and toxins in the air and water that can poison us without us being aware. To reduce people’s overwhelming desire to eat in response to environmental cues, the number and type of cues can be limited and regulated. Cues and techniques that promote automatic behaviours can be made transparent with clearly understandable warnings, although this option may not be able to prevent the automatic dopamine secretion. Society needs to act as a whole to reshape the environment in order to improve the quality and quantity of food we obtain, since the present environment makes it too difficult for most people to do that by themselves. Regulations addressing food cues, food availability, portion sizes, and advertising are needed.

Key words:
diabetes; etiology; metabolic syndrome; obesity; psychological factors; psychotherapy