Treatment options for obesity typically include lifestyle measures such as diet and exercise. However, therapy can also help by teaching you the skills needed to maintain a healthier lifestyle.

Obesity is a chronic health condition that can lead to the development of other conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 40% of adults in the United States are living with obesity. It can negatively affect your quality of life and lead to difficulty moving and sleeping.

Treatment options for obesity typically involve several measures, such as a nutritious, balanced diet and regular exercise.

Learning how to adopt lifelong changes can be important for maintaining a healthier lifestyle. A key approach to this is therapy, which can teach you skills needed to achieve, accept, and maintain lifestyle changes in a safe and healthy way.

Here are some types of therapies for people with obesity:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy where you can discuss any problems you are facing with a therapist, such as difficulty losing weight. They can help you learn about coping skills that are specific to your daily life.

As far as psychological interventions go for obesity, CBT is often considered the first-line therapy.

It can help you to:

  • identify unhealthy thought patterns and actions surrounding your diet and body image
  • create and apply realistic goals for healthier lifestyle choices
  • learn skills to maintain dietary and exercise plans
  • improve your overall mental well-being to ensure you are better equipped to tackle your goals
  • learn how to lose weight in a way that’s safe and helps you avoid disordered eating behaviors

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a psychotherapy that encourages you to accept and embrace your thoughts and values.

ACT follows six key stages or core processes, which a therapist may invite you to think of as a hexagon.

The six stages are:

  1. acceptance
  2. cognitive defusion
  3. contacting the present moment
  4. self as context
  5. values
  6. committed action

When applied to weight management, ACT can help you examine your eating behaviors and develop and commit to goals with a positive outcome. These goals could include reduced caloric intake and physical activity.

Intensive behavioral therapy (IBT) can be an important component of obesity treatment. It typically begins with an assessment of your overall health, which makes it easier to identify behaviors that may be harming your health.

A healthcare professional will then work with you to create a goal plan and assist during the process, ensuring you have enough support.

IBT also includes regular follow-ups, during which you and a healthcare professional can check in on your progress and make any necessary adjustments to your goals and support options.

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on how we manage our relationships and emotions. It’s often used as a treatment for mental health conditions like depression.

For people who are experiencing obesity and depression, IPT may be a beneficial treatment option. It can focus on short-term treatment with long-term effects.

Research from 2023 suggests that it may be helpful for treating depression and binge-eating disorders and supporting weight loss.

When deciding on a treatment plan for obesity, it can be helpful to consider your specific needs and the areas you may need support in. For example, if you find it difficult to come up with realistic goals and actionable steps, a therapist may be able to help you identify them.

Therapy can often be a great tool to help us take care of our emotional well-being during our health journeys.

However, it may not be right for everyone. If you are unsure about starting therapy, consider beginning with a consultation appointment with a therapist who specializes in treating issues surrounding weight.

They can help you identify if therapy may be able to benefit you and which type may be right for you during your weight loss journey.

Fat shaming and weight stigma can often have harmful effects on our mental health and can also create a barrier to getting healthy.

For people with obesity, it can be important to have a supportive network of people around you. This doesn’t just include your loved ones but also healthcare professionals who are treating you.

When looking for a supportive therapist for obesity treatment, it may be helpful to consider the following:

  • Do they use kind and compassionate language?
  • Do they understand that obesity is not just a choice and can often include several factors that are outside of a person’s control?
  • Do they lead with a healthy concept of diet that includes nutrition?
  • Do they consider emotional and psychological needs, such as healing ideas about body image and self-esteem?

Obesity is a chronic health condition that can affect your quality of life.

While treatment for obesity typically involves a nutritious, balanced diet and regular exercise, therapy may also be beneficial.

Common types of therapy for obesity include:

  • cognitive behavioral therapy
  • acceptance and commitment therapy
  • intensive behavioral therapy
  • interpersonal therapy

If you’re unsure about starting therapy, consider beginning with a consultation appointment. A therapist can help you identify how therapy may be able to benefit you and which type may be right for you during your weight loss journey.