The aim of this article is to show selected psychological mechanisms involved in the onset and maintenance of obesity in children and youth. This work presents a review of the literature related to the psychological determinants of obesity from different theoretical approaches. The role of the mother-child relationship, as well as the specific characteristics of the relationships within the family, have been emphasized in the onset of the disorder. Another topic discussed were the specifics of the body experience and certain body image distortions that promote the maintenance of the obese state. The control deficit caused by family relationships was also described.
Keywords: body experience; body image; emotional relationship with the mother; family relationships; obesity; psychological mechanisms.