I am obese and want to fix it. Can obesity be treated mentally?
Yes and no. The mental part of why we eat for reasons other than nutrition can be treated mentally. Many of us use food as a coping mechanism or we are seeking pleasure. There are some foods that stimulate the same receptors in the brain that opiates and dopamine do; namely sugar and certain carbohydrates. With that said, there is also a physiological cause and effect depending on our biological programming on our body's engine type. Meaning, does my body burn fuel/energy like an old Buick, or does my body burn fuel/energy like a Prius and we go 50 miles and only burn a gallon. My body, for example, burns like a Prius making it impossible to exercise off bad eating. In addition, I seek pleasure through food which sets me up for a tough combination. I have found that the best place to start is working with a good bariatric physician as I have found that mental therapy alone tends to have a less than satisfactory outcome. To find a bariatric physician in your area, go to:https://obesitymedicine.org/find-obesity-treatment/