Biopsychosocial Model

Question 1

What is health?

Answer 1

State of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing

Question 2

What is the origins of the Biopsychosocial model?

Answer 2

Engel’s conceptual model of fitness: physical problems, understood by biological problems however patient can experience distress, display illness behaviour and people take on sick role

Question 3

Why is there slowness of implementing the biopsychosocial approach?

Answer 3

1) Lack of incentives + 2) workload and competency

1) Lack of incentives:
- Payment schemes
- Clinical guidelines
- Clinical performance indicators

2) Workload competency issues:
- Lack of time
- Lack of education
- Lack of willingness to implement

Question 4

Name and relate one recent theoretical model proposed to elucidate the complexity of biopsychosocial factors in obesity.

Answer 4

Marks’ Homeostatic Theory of Obesity ≈ expands from nutritional homeostasis models to incorporate more complex behavioural processes influencing overeating + social aspects such as stress, socioeconomic inequalities (ethnic minorities + socioeconomic status). 
integrates diverse and valuable literatures into a model aimed at promoting a better understanding of overweight and obesity.

Question 5

What is the biopsychosocial model?

Answer 5

interdisciplinary model looking at the interconnection between biology, psychology and socio-environmental factors, developed by Engel and first of the kind to employ multifaceted thinking. It is an ideal representation of science and humanism in medical practice, despite being hard to implement.

Question 6

How does social class impact motherhood and feeding regarding obesity?

Answer 6

1. Providing treats and comforts to children is important as a reward



2. Food being a stress reliever 


Question 7

How does class, eating and exercise relate to lifestyle and regarding obesity?

Answer 7

1. Working class people more likely to be involved in physical labour and viewed the body as a machine in which food is a fuel



2. Working class people seek to fill their body with high caloric foods cf middle to upper classes are seeking slim, trim bodies which relate to the chances of material or symbolic profit that is expected within a labour market valorising physical appearance and self-presentation



3. Tastes: class influences tastes and what people consider palatable

Question 8

How do neighbourhood conditions influence obesity?

Answer 8

1. Availability of food, food security and the obesogenic environment 

2. Lack of healthy amenities: need a car to access supermarkets thus difficult for impoverished to access fresh fruit and vegetables