Which of the following best explains how the psychosocial implications of obesity can contribute to behaviors that perpetuate weight gain?

• A. Obesity always results in increased motivation to exercise and adopt healthy eating habits.
• B. Psychosocial factors have no significant impact on eating behaviors or physical activity in individuals with obesity.
• C. The psychosocial implications of obesity only affect physical health, not behavior or emotional well-being.
• D. Experiencing social stigma and low self-esteem may lead to emotional eating and avoidance of physical activity, creating a cycle that maintains or increases weight.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the key psychosocial implications of obesity, such as social stigma, low self-esteem, and emotional distress, which can affect an individual's mental and emotional well-being.
2. Step 2: Recognize how these psychosocial factors influence behavior, particularly by increasing the likelihood of emotional eating as a coping mechanism and reducing motivation to engage in physical activity due to feelings of shame or avoidance.
3. Step 3: Identify the cyclical nature of these behaviors, where emotional eating and physical inactivity contribute to further weight gain, which in turn can exacerbate negative psychosocial experiences.
4. Step 4: Analyze why statements suggesting that obesity always leads to positive health behaviors or that psychosocial factors have no impact are inaccurate, by considering evidence from psychological research on behavior and motivation.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the best explanation involves understanding the feedback loop where psychosocial challenges lead to behaviors that perpetuate obesity, highlighting the importance of addressing emotional and social factors in treatment.