Obesity: 7yo girl obsessed with food reaches 400lbs!

[Patrick Yovino]

I know our book says that obesity is not yet included in the DSM IV,
but doing some research I came across a story on a 400 pound seven
year old, and I watched a video by Insider about the girl. This girl,
named Jessica, weighed 200 lb when she was five years old and then 400
lb at seven. There was a distinct pattern of behavior, Jessica would
throw a temper tantrums demanding food, and the mother would
continuously give in. The mother claimed that she did not know over
eating was a health risk. Home videos of the girl showed her unable to
walk normally and she usually scooted on her bottom to get around.
After being rushed to the hospital for difficulty breathing, courts
and child services ordered that Jessica go to an obesity clinic. Even
after 300 lbs of weight loss she is left with deformed legs and tons
of floppy skin. She needs to go to physical therapy five times a day
and needs surgery to remove the skin. She has obsessions with food,
she thinks about it nonstop, crying out that she wants food and
continuing to have temper tantrums.

While obesity is pretty much accepted in the fields of kinesiology and
medicine as primarily genetic, social, and personal choice based, this
case shows that other factors such as cognitive and psychological
really do play a role. This gives credibility to the future acceptance
of obesity as a diagnosable DSM IV psychological disorder.

- Patrick Yovino

[Alli Smith]

Wow, thanks for sharing Patrick - how interesting... and how sad. Can you post a link to that video? 

--
Allison M. Smith, M. A.
Clinical Psychology Doctoral Candidate
University of Rhode Island
*cura personalis*

[Patrick Yovino]

Here is an Inside Edition video that covers this story, I will try to
find the Insider version of the video that I first watched, though I
do believe this video is better:
http://youtu.be/cNATWsVVwgo

[Patrick Yovino]

Professor Smith,

I left my laptop in the classroom, did you by any chance happen to pick it up? If not I'll head over there first thing in the morning and have the janitor open up the door. Thank you either way.

- Patrick W. Yovino