Abstract
Psychological and lifestyle-related factors have been judged by experts in the obesity field to be of secondary importance to genetics. However, Studies have documented high rates of obesity among individuals with binge eating disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric diagnoses. Some psychotropic medications like antipsychotics are independently associated with weight gain as well. Similarities among obesity, drug addiction, and compulsive behaviours have led some researcher to describe a form of obesity characterized by “compulsive food consumption”. Moreover, obese people experience negative weight bias at home, school, work, media & health and fitness settings. Finally there is evidence that Psychosocial aspects negatively impacts illness course and response to treatment with small but significant increase in suicide rate after bariatric surgery in vulnerable patients which necessitate pre & post psychiatric assessment of candidates who apply for such surgery.