On the assumption that hyperobesity represents an indirect form of self-destructive behavior, the authors compared a group of hyperobese subjects to a group who

had attempted suicide and a control group of patients undergoing appendectomy or herniorrhapy. The groups were evaluated in areas of "self-value, sense of adequacy and self-control, futurity, and excitement-seeking," using a set of rating scales applied to a questionnaire. Contrary to expectations, the obese group differed in only one respect from the control group: they had significantly higher feelings of adequacy and self-control than the group undergoing surgery. As predicted, the obese group regarded themselves more positively, felt more self-directed, were more inclined to feel they had a future, and had fewer feelings of being powerless or losing respect of others, than did the attempted suicide group.