Journal of Obesity & Weight Loss Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Cognitive therapy is based on a model which explains how thoughts and feelings relate to each other.The synchronous relationship between cognitions, behaviour and mood suggests that a change in any one component is likely to produce changes in the other. Beck's model of cognitive therapy emphasise the underlying cognitions or beliefs in an individual's overt difficulties. Cognitive therapy is therefore a treatment aimed at understanding primarily cognitive structures in an individual's problem, and devising intervention strategies aimed at changing, but initially challenging underlying irrational beliefs. Through modelling by the therapist, education and challenging verbal techniques, aimed at helping the patient to think about his problem and make the various links between symptoms and vulnerability factors, cognitive therapy guides the patient to a greater understanding of his problems.The model states that in the presence of emotional disturbance there will be: Negative automatic thoughts, patterns of regularly occurring errors and core beliefs and dysfunctional assumptions. In England, most people are overweight or obese. This includes 61.3% of adults and 30% of children. They have a higher risk of getting diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Excess weight can also make it more difficult for people to find and keep work, and it can affect self-esteem and mental health. Health problems associated with being overweight or obese cost the NHS more than £5 billion every year. Obesity is everybody?s business and it is the responsibility of individuals to change their behaviour to lose weight. Both motivation and a positive attitude are needed. As described by dieticians, people also need to change the way that they eat, replace unhealthy foods, say no to extra portions and make conscious choices. Individuals have to be willing to change how they live and be open to new ways of doing things, having daily routines, setting new rules and being more active. This paper therefore explores how cognitive behaviour therapy principles and techniques can be used to help overweight or obese individuals who need to lose weight or lower their cholesterol.

Biography

Samuel Stein is an Attending Child, Adolescent and Family Psychiatry. He graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School in 1986, and undertook his psychiatry training in Oxford, Cambridge and at St. Mary's Hospital in London. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and has edited several books including: Disorganized Children . He is also a Visiting Professor at the Institute for Health Research at the University of Bedfordshire and the Post-Graduate Medical Institute at Anglia Ruskin University. He has a commitment to service-oriented research and many of his initiatives have been implemented nationally as examples of accessible and effective good practice.