Psychoanalysts provided information about 84 obese patients and 63
patients of normal weight at the beginning of this study, 18 months later,
and 4 years later. Treatment lasted from 3 to more than 7 years. Although
obesity was the chief complaint of only 6% of the obese patients, their
weight loss and maintenance of it compared favorably with results reported
for other psychological treatments for obesity. Severe body image
disparagement was present in 39% of the obese patients at the beginning of
treatment but in only 18% at the 4-year follow-up. Most patients improved
in their chief complaint and presenting symptoms. The study indicates that
large-scale collaborative research in psychoanalysis is feasible.Abstract Teaser