Iranian Journal of

Background: The role of obesity and overweightness in emerging and enduring of serious medical and psychological disorders on one hand and the effect of psychological factors in obesity on the other hand, has made the surveys about psychological role in obesity of great importance. The aim of the present study was to compare the attachment styles and parenting styles of obese and non-obese adults. Methods: 144 individuals (72 obese patients: 48 females and 24 males) and (72 non-obese: 48 females and 24 males) participated in this study. Participants were asked to complete the Adult Attachment Inventory (AAI) and the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ). Results: There was a negative relationship between secure attachment and Body Mass Index (BMI) of the obese patients, but no statistically significant relationship between insecure attachment styles (avoidant and ambivalent) was found. There was also a statistically significant relationship between the mean scores of secure and ambivalent attachment styles with BMI. Regarding the parenting styles and BMI, there was a statistically significant relationship between authoritative parenting style of the father and BMI, but no relation between authoritarian and permissive parenting styles was confirmed. Conclusion: Regarding the role of attachment styles and parenting styles of obese and non-obese adults, we can improve the physical and psychological public health of patients by changing the prevention and treatment protocols for the patients.