Evaluation of alexithymia and depression in severe obese patients not affected by eating disorders

Abstract

Objective: The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the different aspects of the construct of alexithymia in a group of severe obese patients not affected by eating disorders. Moreover, we tested if in the same patients there was a relationship between alexithymic traits and depressive symptoms.

Method: Forty-nine severe obese patients were evaluated through the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The results were compared with those of a normal weight control group.

Results: Obese patients were less able than control subjects in recognizing and labeling their own emotions. This deficit was positively associated with depressive symptoms.

Conclusions: The data suggest that severe obese patients have more difficulties in recognizing their emotions and have more depressive symptoms than control subjects have.