Psychological impediments to weight loss.

An understanding of the possible psychologic impediments to weight loss can promote improved therapeutic intervention for the obese patient. Certain psychological tasks are imposed by chronic medical illness including obesity. The universal stresses that accompany medical illness, the basic threat to self-esteem and sense of intactness, the fear--of loss of love and approval, of loss of control of function, of injury to body parts, of pain, and of guilt--all become psychological impediments thwarting weight loss and its maintenance. The physician's awareness of these psychological stresses helps him identify areas of necessary support.