Obesity and other lifestyle-related diseases are complex health conditions shaped by the interplay of biological, psychological, behavioral, and social factors. Psychological distress, stress, stigma, maladaptive coping, difficulties in emotion regulation, and persistent patterns of health-related behavior may contribute not only to the development and maintenance of these conditions but also to treatment adherence, quality of life, and long-term health outcomes.

Importantly, growing attention has been directed toward the overlap between obesity, lifestyle-related diseases, and addictive or compulsive behaviors. Addictive-like eating, problematic alcohol and substance use, medication misuse, craving, impulsivity, and other persistent behavioral patterns may share psychological and behavioral mechanisms with maladaptive eating and other health-risk behaviors. Examining these transdiagnostic processes may provide a broader understanding of how psychological and behavioral factors contribute to chronic health conditions and may facilitate the development of more effective assessment, prevention, and intervention strategies.

This Special Issue invites high-quality original research, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical reports addressing psychosomatic and psychological aspects of obesity and lifestyle-related diseases. We particularly welcome studies examining the interaction between chronic physical health conditions and addictive behaviors, as well as research on psychosocial determinants, stigma and self-stigma, psychological assessment, and evidence-based interventions. Studies evaluating cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness- and self-compassion-based approaches, and other psychological or multidisciplinary interventions are also encouraged.

Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:

• Psychosocial and behavioral determinants of obesity and lifestyle-related diseases
• Psychological mechanisms underlying maladaptive health behaviors
• Obesity stigma, self-stigma, discrimination, and mental health
• Eating behavior, food addiction, and addictive-like eating
• Alcohol and substance use in relation to physical and psychological health
• Medication misuse, problematic use, and dependence
• Craving, impulsivity, emotion regulation, stress, and maladaptive coping
• Assessment and screening of addictive and health-related behaviors
• Cognitive behavioral, mindfulness-based, self-compassion-based, and other psychological interventions
• Prevention, treatment adherence, quality of life, and behavior change
• Integrated psychosomatic and multidisciplinary approaches to chronic health conditions

By bringing together research on obesity, lifestyle-related diseases, and addictive behaviors, this Special Issue aims to advance understanding of the shared and distinct psychosomatic and psychological mechanisms underlying chronic health conditions. We hope to promote interdisciplinary research and the development of evidence-based approaches that integrate physical, psychological, and behavioral perspectives.

By highlighting these dimensions, this Special Issue seeks to deepen the discourse on the interplay between psychological processes and obesity, and to promote evidence-based, holistic interventions that address both physical and mental health needs.