The role of the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System in treating childhood obesity

The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents in the United States and Europe has increased over the past decade. Extensive research supports the importance of family variables in the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of pediatric overweight. Family adversity, maternal depression, and insecure attachment of the primary caregiver influence the treatment response. This chapter addresses obesity in adolescence and demonstrates the core role of attachment in a family-based approach for working with overweight and obese teens. The case describes a 15-year-old girl referred to the Healthy Lifestyle Institute (CURIAMo) of the University of Perugia in Italy. She was referred for treatment for being overweight and helping with her eating practices. The chapter discusses the role of the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP) in assessment and treatment recommendations for the girl, who was judged Dismissing Failed Mourning and her Unresolved parents. It demonstrates how the AAP, in combination with other assessment tools, helps develop a treatment plan. It emphasizes the importance of considering the interrelationships of family attachment patterns in examining parental feeding practices and their effects on children’s physical health and emotional well-being.