European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 05, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Us or Ous Schuett Leaf psychologist Norton overweight must alter eating habits and stick to the  that by eating less and by carefully selecting foods weight definitely will be lost. Hopefully when patients leave the Hospital they will understand the value of food Stayman said. Initial feedback indicate tint graduates retaking to heart their learning experiences. Information from patients who attended the Earl group sessions shows they Are continuing to lose weight said capt. Charlie Schneider Deputy director at Wiesbaden. It s data such As this which is to be provided for year after patients leave the hospitals that will prove invaluable to the future of he  both Wiesbaden and Lakenheath Busy physical regi mens demonstrate that exercise bums calories and improves fitness and health. In most exercise sessions overweight and alcoholic re habilitation patient work out together. Our Dally schedule for overweight patients include jogging a mile swimming a half hour and walking two Miles Spence said. They also make nightly visits Touw gym during which they lift weights and shoot baskets. Even though some of the people have been quite obese none has failed to jog a mile after five Days. This is where the group action works they encourage one  Schneider described a similar physical  people go to the gym mondays through fridays for a series of exercises that include stretching push sways and setbacks he said. Once they Are timbered up they play Racquet Ball handball or volleyball. During i realize that i must change my life pattern if i am to Jose weight and stay on Active  their stay at the Hospital they Are encouraged to avoid elevators and to walk As much As  patients enrol in the Wiesbaden program for 28  space for 10 persons five new patients Are admitted every other week. Lakenheath takes in four patients every four weeks. Established for the highly motivated Active duty military member toe programs Are designed Pri Marily for patients who Are at least 30 pounds Over weight. Exceptions Are made for individuals who May be Nomore than is pounds overweight but who face administrative action if they cannot pare Down to weight Stan Dards. Both air Force and Navy personnel Are being admitted to the Lakenheath program. The Wiesbaden program is open to air Force personnel Only. Overeating a Short course in Why Cine for the army s european medical command Heidelberg says some individuals May be born with a higher number of fat cells than  has been shown that 80 per cent of obese Chil Dren will be obese adults he explains. A very High percentage of the overweight people have been so All their lives. Is this genetic or is it the result of Learned eating habits we Don t  col. John n. Of Dansbee euro psychiatric consultant for the medical command says Pat terns for compulsive overeating in adulthood often Are rooted in Early childhood. In infancy when mental functioning is quit primitive and hunger is by far the greatest and most common source of displeasure and satiety the High est form of pleasure the youngster s whole sense of Security and self Worth is bound up with his ability to experience satisfaction in feeding Follansbee Points  is internal pain and badness. Satiety is internal Bliss and  in Early feeding inept or inadequate Moth ering exists where physical impediments to Ade quate feeding Are present or where constitutional factors in the infant prevent satiety the potential for addiction or food habituation  the absence of later corrective experience or the development a adequate defences overeating and obesity will  because obesity can be caused by and can result in psychiatric problems Follansbee feels that in certain cases of Gross obesity treatment May include psychiatric care. Numerous studies have established a significantly higher incidence of neurotic symptoms an personality disorders among obese patients than among the general population he  general he feels it is the grossly obese those weighing at least 40 per cent above their Normal weights who Are in need of psychiatric help. In counselling Many patients Follansbee has come to the conclusion that alcoholism and obesity have much in common and probably represent essentially the same  meaning of food to the obese overeager and of alcohol to the alcoholic is essentially the same he  be heard from particularly articulate and expressive alcoholics and obese persons a similar description of this meaning. It is As if in both disorders there is a Felt internal void or inner sense of emptiness chronic anxiety and Low self esteem. The obese person while experiencing great gratification from food usually loathes himself for his indulgences. He usually regards his physical appearance As repulsive and frequently withdraw from deep relationships particularly with the oppo site  Follansbee bods the obese individual s Resis Tance to psychiatric evaluation similar to that of the alcoholic. The obese person Mil claim that the weight is his problem and what be needs is some Way to lose weight. He will explain All his emotional and social problems in terms of his weight. This is not unlike the alcoholic who will talk endlessly about his drink ing rather than confronting his inner self he should be told that comprehensive medical care for obesity often includes psychiatric care and thursday May 5, 1977 that the aim of psychiatric intervention is to help him look into the unhappiness associated with eating and  considering the similarities Between the alcoholic and the compulsive overeager Follansbee favors the use of group programs similar to those now employed in the services to assist alcoholics. The air Force began in january to use group therapy to help obese patients at new programs in the Ramstein clinic and at hospitals in Wiesbaden and at Lakenheath England. Patients enrolled in the programs Are being urged to consider the role of environment on their eating and to change eating habits. Behaviour is the villain that keeps people fat no willpower Kuchta said in explaining the therapeutic approach being used in the three  attempting to alter eating patterns patients must come to grips with the question of Why they eat so much. The stars and stripes Page a3