AUC provides ‘WEIGHT LOSS SUPPORT’ therapy

By: Mariam abdel moniem

The Psychology Clinic at AUC offers group therapy sessions to help AUCians lose weight and support them psychologically in following a healthy food diet.

The program “Weight Loss Support” doesn’t offer any nutrition diets or exercises. However, the attendees could start doing so themselves as an outside factor that would help, said Rasha El Boghdady, program facilitator.

“I am very insecure about my weight and my image, so I think I would consider attending these sessions to see if they might help me,” said Alya Abdullah, an AUCian majoring in psychology. She added that she thinks organizing this program is a positive step for how common the weight loss problem is.

Alia Al Baker, an undeclared AUC student, agrees that the idea is a helpful move for the AUC community, but she said it is likely that few people will actually attend due to embarrassment of seeing someone they know; it would only add to their discomfort and insecurity.

“The group therapy addresses the psychological issues that interfere with weight loss. This is achieved through the interaction among clients, which is considered an integral part of the therapeutic process,” said El Boghdady.

She added that this program doesn’t have an alternative motive other than to help and support people who would like to talk about their weight loss problems.

“Talking about your insecurities in public, in a supportive crowd, has a great effect on the brain because it allows you to overcome your weakest thoughts,” said Nada Motawe, a psychology junior.

Motawe added that offering such a facility will give people the chance to express their repressed emotions freely and relate to others going through the same issues, which is proven to be a cure to a psychologically upset mind.

The therapeutic process will help people accept themselves as they are, just by talking about their problems, said El Boghdady.

Weight loss is not just a problem that is limited to AUCians; it concerns many Egyptians.

According to a 2012 World Health Organization report, 46.3 percent of Egyptian women above 20 are obese, compared to a 24.5 percent regional average. As for Egyptian men, 22.5 percent are obese, with a 13 percent regional average, for the year 2008.