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Related Concept Videos

Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
Binge Eating Disorders01:23

Binge Eating Disorders

Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...
Bulimia Nervosa01:30

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder01:28

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both, which consume significant time and interfere with daily functioning. Obsessions involve persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that evoke anxiety. Common examples include irrational fears of contamination or harm. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions. For instance, individuals...
Anorexia Nervosa01:28

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
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Introduction to Psychological Disorders01:19

Introduction to Psychological Disorders

Abnormal behavior, often referred to as mental illness, results from changes in brain function that influence thought patterns, behaviors, and social interactions. Psychologists and psychiatrists typically assess abnormal behavior using three primary criteria: deviance, maladaptation, and personal distress, particularly when these traits persist over long periods.
Deviant Behavior
Deviance in behavior refers to actions or thought patterns that significantly diverge from societal norms or...

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A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
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Obesity: is it a mental disorder?

Marsha D Marcus1, Jennifer E Wildes

  • 1Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. marcusmd@upmc.edu

The International Journal of Eating Disorders
|July 18, 2009
PubMed
Summary

There is little evidence to classify obesity as a mental disorder in the DSM-V. However, obesity is linked to mental illness, necessitating routine adiposity monitoring in psychiatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Medical Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Obesity is a harmful condition with diverse causes.
  • The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) criteria for mental disorders are based on Wakefield's concept of 'harmful mental dysfunction'.
  • Understanding the relationship between obesity and mental health is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the scientific evidence for classifying obesity as a mental disorder in the DSM-V.
  • To assess if obesity meets the criteria of 'harmful mental dysfunction'.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search of computer databases was conducted.
  • Reference lists of relevant review articles published within the last decade were examined.

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  • Empirical research papers pertaining to obesity and mental dysfunction were identified and reviewed.

    • Main Results:

    • Obesity is a harmful condition with heterogeneous etiology.
    • Limited evidence suggests obesity, in general, arises from mental dysfunction.
    • Preliminary research on neurocircuitry of energy balance indicates potential mental dysfunction in specific obesity phenotypes, but findings are insufficient for classification.
    • Obesity is associated with mental disorders and psychiatric medications.

    Conclusions:

    • There is insufficient evidence to include obesity as a mental disorder in the DSM-V.
    • The study underscores the importance of regular monitoring of adiposity in individuals with psychiatric illnesses.