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Fear Factor Women: Weight Phobia

Written by: Gunborg Palme, certified psychologist and certified psychotherapist, teacher and tutor in psychotherapy.
First version: 22 Jul 2008. Latest version: 07 Aug 2008.

Abstract:

Describes the symptoms and prevalence of weight phobia.

Question:

What is a weight-phobia? How common is it and how does it reveal itself? Is it a fear factor for women?

Answer:

According to Lee (Hong kong) 1993, 60 percent of anorectics have no fear of becoming fat. Those anorectics who suffer from weight-phobia avoid eating fat to an absurd degree and try to exercise as much as possible in order to use it up. They may also have the false notion that all food becomes fat in the body.

The following questions can reveal if someone has a weight-phobia:

Are you satisfied with your body?

Are you afraid of putting on weight?

Do you feel that you are fat?

Do you like your body?

Those with a weight-phobia often have a distorted impression of their body. They think they are much fatter than they really are. The unhappier they are, the fatter they feel.

More Information
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