[Mental and somatic elements of sense of identity obese girls and boys].

BACKGROUND

The sense of identity during the sexual maturation is different for obese persons and for those having a normal body mass. The sense of identity involves mental and somatic contents, it is a self-knowledge, manner of self-experience. The aim of this article is a trial of an answer what is a sense of identity experienced by obese girls and boys in adolescence. Girls and boys realize fundamental, developmental tasks concerning definition of sense of self identity as well as conclusion of separation--individuation process.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

21 obese persons (12 girls and 9 boys) and 23 persons of normal body mass (15 girls and 8 boys) have been investigated. The mean age of the investigated obese persons were 14.53, and for a person of normal body mass was 15.31. All persons were investigated by a clinical interview with 8 questions concerning sense of identity. The obtained results were analyzed in relation to sense of identity contents: cognitive, emotional, social, sexual, certificate, behavioral and somatic.

RESULTS

There were differences between obese and normal body mass persons in contents of sense of identity. These differences were concern girls and boys. Somatic categories were dominant for obese persons. Emotional and behavioral categories were dominant for normal body mass persons.

CONCLUSION

1. There were specific difficulties in the definition of sense of identity for obese persons in adolescence. 2. Particular difficulties concerned obese girls, what constituted one of mental cause of eating disorders.