Example psychotherapy dissertation topic 7:

An analysis of the effect of the media on obesity: Better physical health, or worse mental health?

The media has joined in with the calls of many in the medical profession, as well as politicians and social commentators, that the rates of obesity must fall in order to reduce the cost of obesity-related conditions, such as stroke and heart attack, to the NHS. This paper considers whether the frequency and tone of such advice has created an environment whereby the obese will feel so hectored that their mental health deteriorated substantially, thereby simply moving costs from one sector of the public health budget, to another. The focus within the thesis is not on the exacerbation of eating disorders but rather on the mental health of those who remain obese, by choice, disinclination otherwise, or other conditions.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• De Zwaan, M., Petersen, I., Kaerber, M., Burgmer, R., Nolting, B., Legenbauer, T., Benecke, A. and Herpertz, S. (2009). ‘Obesity and quality of life: A controlled study of normal-weight and obese individuals’. Psychosomatics, vol. 50(5), pp. 474-482.
• Karasu, S.R. (2012). ‘Of mind and matter: Psychological dimensions in obesity’. American Journal of Psychotherapy, vol. 66(2), pp. 111-128.
• Lin, L. and Reid, K. (2009). ‘The relationship between media exposure and antifat attitudes: The role of dysfunctional appearance beliefs’. Body Image, vol. 6(1), pp. 52-55.