Benefits of Group Psychotherapy Programs in the Treatment of Obesity

Obesity has reached pandemic proportions in recent years, affecting not only the physical health, but also the mental health, of obese people. According to Spain's National Health Survey 2011-12, the prevalence of obesity in the adult population of Spain was 17%, having increased by 2.5% since 2006. Therefore, a constant and worrying increase in the prevalence of obesity is being observed, which is having a great impact, both individually, in terms of health and quality of life, and socially, inter alia, by raising health expenditure due to increased morbidity.

In this context, the desirability of a comprehensive approach that includes psychological intervention in attending obese patients (Rev Cochrane, 2006), has been given greater prominence. Paying attention to the emotional and psychopathological aspects related to obesity has proven to be an action that could have positive impact on obesity intervention models.

The aim of this project is to measure, through a clinical trial, the efficacy of a psychotherapy group program for obesity patients who are attended by the consulting endocrinologist at the Infanta Leonor Hospital (Madrid). The impact of body mass index, psychological wellbeing, psychopathology and quality of life of two experimental study groups will be compared, one a control group of patients that follows the standard treatment, the other an experimental group that follows not only the standard treatment, but also the psychotherapy group intervention program.