Psychiatric aspects of massive obesity: observations on the concept of alexithymia and on the mental representation of the body-self

Our investigation involved 60 patients submitted to specific treatment ― either medical or surgical ― for reduction of their weight. The results of our study showed that alexithymia should not be included in the wide set of psychopathological characteristics of massive obesity and that a fat body is considered by these patients as a protecting interspace between the outside world and themselves