A behavioral approach to obesity.

For many individuals, the practice of overeating is crucial in the development and maintenance of the obese state. Behavior theory views excessive eating leading to obesity as an overlearned habit, strongly conditioned to numerous internal and external cues. A number of studies are reviewed that assess the relationship between emotional arousal and food consumption. Obese persons who successfully lost and maintained a weight loss appeared able to reduce the number of inappropriate stimuli they previously responded to with food intake. The specific behavior modification techniques employed to change eating patterns are discussed, and weight loss maintenance follow-up statistics using these procedures are presented.