The hunger for touch: a relationship between touch and obesity
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Authors
Larkin, Wendy Davis
Issue Date
1985
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
In this study, 31 women who considered themselves overweight answered a two-hour questionnaire dealing with being overweight, overeating, touch, and their lifetime patterns of weight gain and loss. Loss of relationship, a profound denial of the body, childhood physical and sexual abuse, and the presence of alcoholic families of origin emerged as significant issues related to the problem of being overweight. Touch and eating were correlated as ways to relieve emotional tension and stress. Recommendations for treatment included addressing all of the above issues in a woman's life rather than focusing solely on the amount of physical weight being gained or lost. Further research into the prevalence of childhood sexual abuse and adult obesity and the incidence of alcoholic families of origin among overweight women is strongly suggested.