Use of cognitive-behavioral approach to overweight and obesity therapy in STOB activities

Summary

Obesity brings problems both for individual health and economic of the whole society. Unfortunately, in addition to serious approaches to the therapy of obesity, lay offers by non-serious entrepreneurs are still prevalent, often leading to alternating stages of meaningless weight reduction with stages of uncontrolled states and overeating, which is negatively reflected in both physical and mental health.

It is within the competence of experts to increase the nutritional literacy of patients. To teach patients to critically evaluate lay information and to put serious information into practical life is an important part of education. It is necessary to correct offers of quick weight loss through strict unbalanced diets or ineffective products but experts often do not have the time and motivation to publish in mass media.

For 30 years STOB has tried to fill this gap and has developed programs that have led people to change their eating and movement habits. The aim of the intervention is not only education, but through cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy and mindfulness, STOB leads overweight people to transform theoretical knowledge into practical life. The organization of group courses of healthy losing weight is the main program. STOB has developed a short intervention methodology for physicians and offers a "distant" assistance to overweight people through printed materials and internet programs.

Keywords:

lay approaches to therapy of obesity – cognitive-behavioral approach – group courses of healthy weight loss – internet program – short intervention – STOB