[The shame cycle in obesity].

Area of Science:

• Psychoanalysis
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Obesity is a significant public health concern in Western countries.
• It is often oversimplified as a dietary issue, neglecting its complex psychological roots.
• This study explores obesity as a symptom within a broader psychoanalytic framework.

Observation:

• The study highlights the central role of shame in the psyche of individuals with obesity.
• Shame is examined as a
• subjective backup
• and a cornerstone of the symptom.
• Clinical case analysis focuses on shame within transference and countertransference dynamics.

Findings:

• Obese individuals express shame related to their complaints and body image.
• Shame is identified as a driving force behind bulimic crises.
• The social dimension of shame contributes to body transformation in obesity.

Implications:

• Pathological shame indicates a struggle with maintaining a sense of existence.
• Integrating the concept of shame into eating disorder consultations is crucial.
• Addressing shame allows patients to articulate their "shame of being" and build subjectivity.