Objective: Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by the increase in body fat mass compared to lean body mass, due to the fact that the energy taken from the food through the body is more than the energy consumed. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the possible relationship between childhood traumas, attachment styles and defense mechanisms with the etiology of the disease in individuals diagnosed with obesity.

Material and Method: In this study, which was planned as a case-control study, 50 patients aged between 18-65 and diagnosed with obesity and 50 healthy non-obese control groups with similar sociodemographic characteristics in terms of age and sex were included. Sociodemographic Data Form and the Inventory of Experiences in Close Relationships, Childhood Trauma Scale and Defense Styles Scale were administered to all participants.

Results: The total score of the Childhood Trauma Scale was found to be significantly higher in the case group compared to the control group (p <0.05).The defense styles scale total score was found to be statistically significantly higher in the case group compared to the control group (p <0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of attachment style (p >0.05).

Conclusion: A relationship was found between childhood traumas and defense styles and obesity. We emphasized that psychiatric factors as well as genetic and biological factors are effective in the etiology of obesity. Further studies are needed to generalize the findings and develop health strategies for this purpose.