[Handicaps of massive obesity]

Massive obesity results in psychological--internal, relational, behavioural and psychosocial--handicaps due, to a great extent, to a society which encourages the occurrence of obesity but does not tolerate those who present with this condition. As the weight increases, the quality of life diminishes. Moreover, the mental performances of very obese individuals seem to be inferior to those of subjects with normal weight. Treatments which include a restrictive diet are the sources of depressive symptoms related to the chronic restriction. So far, only those patients who were operated upon, and particularly those who underwent gastroplasty, enjoy a dramatic improvement in their quality of life. As for those massively obese subjects who are not concerned with this solution, long-term supporting measures should be developed.