The cognitive orientation of obesity

The paper focuses on studying the cognitive determinants of obesity within the framework of the cognitive orientation (CO) theory. This theory assumes that cognitive contents and processes guide behavior, and specifies procedures for predicting and changing behaviors. The subjects were 64 obese and 64 nonobese women matched in age, height and other demographic variables. They were administered the MMPI and a CO questionnaire of obesity which assessed beliefs of four types (about goals, rules and norms, self and general beliefs) concerning 20 themes found to represent the meanings of food, eating and obesity. The results showed that the groups did not differ and had no elevated scores on any of the MMPI scales. The obese had higher scores than the controls on each of the belief types, an overall belief index, 19 themes and a conflict propensity measure. A discriminant analysis showed 88.3 percent correct identifications on the basis of the beliefs. Discussion focused on the role of conflicts and the different themes in obesity and on outlining the elements of a CO model of obesity with therapeutic implications.