Healthy Weight Healthy Eating Understanding and helping individuals

Healthy Weight, Healthy Eating: Understanding and helping individuals with weight- and eating-related difficulties Edie Goldbacher, Ph. D. Department of Psychology La Salle University

An overview… Ø Who am I? Ø What is the context for trying to understand, prevent and treat eatingand weight-related difficulties? Ø What does this look like? Ø How are we at La Salle contributing to these efforts?

Obesity Trends* Among U. S. Adults BRFSS, 1990, 2000, 2010 (*BMI 30, or about 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) 2000 1990 2010 No Data ≥ 30% <10% 10%– 14% 15%– 19% 20%– 24% 25%– 29%

The multifaceted nature of obesity Ø Genetics / Biological Factors Ø Environmental Factors l l l Availability / cost of food / advertising Portion sizes Characteristics of the built environment Ø Social Factors Social support l Social / cultural / environmental stress l

Conscious Choices?

The multifaceted nature of obesity: Behavioral Factors Ø Mindless / unintentional eating Ø Ineffective eating patterns Ø Sedentary behaviors Ø Ineffective problem-solving Ø Sensitivity to environmental cues

Behavioral Weight Loss: Not a diet, but a lifelong change Ø Ø Ø Self-monitoring Ø Pre-determined # of sessions (12 – 20 weekly, Goal setting additional if needed) Problem-solvingØ Pre-set time frame (50 Stimulus control minute) Ø Weekly weigh-ins Coping Ø Nutrition education Relapse Ø Physical activity prevention Ø Behavior modification Ø Identify / modify unhelpful thinking patterns

Self-Monitoring I am going to need more information …

Self Monitoring Diet Weight Physical Activity

Stimulus control

Stimulus Control Ø Learning to pay attention to things that we identify in the environment and how they may alter eating habits. Ø Pavlov's Dogs-

The multifaceted nature of obesity: Psychological Factors Ø Emotions / stress l Alternatives Ø Binge eating l l l Approximately 1 -5% of population May be associated with weight loss difficulties May require different / specialized treatment approach (e. g. , CBT) Ø Other psychological factors l Psychological disorders

The multifaceted nature of obesity: Bias / Discrimination Ø Increased by about 60% over past decade Ø Omnipresent Ø Common stereotypes and attitudes Ø Being a victim is associated with physical and psychological consequences Ø Raise awareness / educate Ø Address in treatment as precipitant

Our work at La Salle: The community at large La Salle University’s Community Psychological Services: Healthy Eating, Healthy Weight clinic Ø Low-cost, sliding scale services Ø Individual services l l l Eating and weight-difficulties Individualized treatment Improving treatment options, availability and outcomes Ø Weight loss group

Our work at La Salle: The university community Ø Furthering our understanding of factors that contribute to eating and weight difficulties in students l Emotional eating Ø Examining weight-related attitudes among health care providers in student health centers Ø Promoting awareness, sensitivity and change

Interested in learning more? Ø Yale’s Rudd Food Center l http: //www. yaleruddcenter. org/ Ø The Obesity Society l http: //www. obesity. org/ Ø The Academy for Eating Disorders l http: //aed-web. org/web/index. php

Questions? Thank you! goldbacher@lasalle. edu