On Psychogenic Obesity in Children II1

Abstract

Summary In the light of BRUCH'S works and theory, psychogenic aspects of childhood obesity have been estimated on the basis of a re‐examination of 61 obese children. An account is given of the material and the methods of investigation. It has not been possible to prove a characteristic outward social, family, and psychological constellation of surroundings for obese children. Recurrent characteristics in the surroundings are frequent occurrences of obesity in the families, great eating‐habits, and a wide‐spread tolerance of these phenomena. Most cases have confirmed that obese children have an abnormally great food intake, often combined with bodily inactivity. In their attitude to the fat child and in their views on such subjects as health, illness, eating‐habits, and obesity, a great percentage of the mothers have displayed many points of resemblance and common characteristics, which are interpreted as extreme and abnormally exaggerated expressions of traits that presumably were universal and typical of the Danish population of a certain period. Nothing has been found that can justify the assumption of a recurrent ambivalent attitude with secondary overprotection on the side of the mothers. By a direct diagnostic estimation of each separate obesity case in the material 9 cases were nominated ‘positive’. 12 ‘doubtful’, 40 ‘negative’ with regard to psychogenic obesity. The criteria for this division are discussed, and a few typical case histories are presented in condensed versions. Finally, attention is called to the desirability of procuring comparable control materials.