Does Hypnosis work to lose weight? Is hypnotherapy a good investment? The answer is yes and no. Let me explain
Should a hypnotherapist understand nutrition to create a more successful outcome? In my opinion, they should. But it is also my belief that they should have a good understanding of any therapy they are facilitating. Hypnosis is not a panacea, as medications are not to a physician. In fact, many medications mask the original problems and cause additional side effects.
A hypnotherapist prescribes words, however, unless they understand the power of those words, then most long-term therapy will not work. Especially so for weight management/weight loss.
With most hypnotically talented clients, you will get favorable short-term results. Yet, as with ANY hypnotherapy, long-term results will have greater success if your vocabulary is precise and relevant.
You would think if we could put a man on the moon that we would be able to figure out this ‘nutrition thing.’
Our governments are aware of the health issues caused by poor nutrition AND have the power to make changes. Consider the huge amounts of profit made from the fast food and sugar industry via investment as well as sales. Their lobby in Congress is powerful.
Another great benefactor of our rampant obesity is the Pharmaceutical companies. The pharma industry makes billions on statins and blood pressure medications… conditions, especially obesity, that poor nutrition causes. Piggybacking them is the diet industry, which in the USA market is estimated at $71 billion. That is a lot of money being made to confuse us into thinking we have no control over our lives!!!!!!!
As a hypnotherapist, we are in a unique situation to make a profound difference, but generic hypnotic weight loss dialogue is only going to take your client so far. I still hear the word fat consumption being used in a negative context… when taking in healthy fat is ESSENTIAL for a healthy lifestyle.
I do not have a degree in nutrition, but I have extensive knowledge in health education, a subject that I taught at University/College.
If somebody approaches me to discuss a specific way of eating, I feel prepared to alter my dialogue to accommodate their needs. I am blessed to have a wife who is a Nurse Practitioner with specialised knowledge of nutrition. www.stilljanet.com
If I feel stuck with anything then this is my go-to person.
Weight loss/management can be a complex problem especially if medications are involved. If you are unsure about a nutritional situation, you can refer out, or work in a partnership with a health care professional.
We all have individual constitutions and lifestyle circumstances, so it would only make sense that every hypnotherapy dialogue would be different.
Resources
Glycemic index for 60 plus foods
U.S. obesity as delayed effect of excess sugar
Obesity and overweight-World Health Organisation. While many population health studies have invoked sugar as a major casual factor in the obesity epidemic, few have explicitly explored the temporal delay between increased sugar consumption and rising obesity rates.
Obesity and overweight
Obesity and overweight-World Health Organisation.
In 2019, an estimated 38.2 million children under the age of 5 years were overweight or obese
Conclusion on Hypnosis and Weight Loss
Hypnosis has emerged as a potential adjunctive therapy for weight loss, gaining attention in both clinical and research settings. The efficacy of hypnosis in facilitating weight loss is rooted in its ability to alter behavioral patterns and enhance motivation through psychological mechanisms. This conclusion synthesizes current findings from various studies, highlighting the strengths and limitations of hypnosis as a weight management strategy.
Mechanisms of Hypnosis in Weight Loss
Hypnosis operates by inducing a state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility, allowing individuals to access their subconscious mind. During this altered state, practitioners can deliver suggestions aimed at modifying behaviors related to eating and exercise. Research indicates that hypnosis may enhance self-efficacy, improve dietary habits, and promote regular physical activity1. For instance, a study demonstrated that participants who engaged in self-hypnosis reported increased satiety and improved quality of life, although the direct impact on weight loss was not statistically significant2.
The neurobiological underpinnings of hypnosis suggest that it can modulate brain activity in areas associated with reward processing and impulse control3. This modulation may lead to healthier food choices and reduced cravings, which are critical components in achieving sustainable weight loss. Furthermore, hypnosis can foster positive changes in attitudes towards food and body image, which are essential for long-term success in weight management4.
Evidence Supporting Hypnosis for Weight Loss
Several meta-analyses have evaluated the effectiveness of hypnosis as a treatment for obesity. A 2018 review found that while hypnosis can lead to short-term weight loss benefits when combined with other interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), its long-term efficacy remains uncertain5. Additionally, a randomized controlled trial indicated that self-hypnosis did not significantly affect weight loss after three weeks but highlighted the need for further research with larger sample sizes to explore varying content and duration of self-hypnosis interventions6.
Despite these findings, some studies have shown promising results regarding the use of hypnosis for enhancing motivation and adherence to dietary plans. Individuals who practice self-hypnosis more frequently tend to experience greater weight loss compared to those who do not engage with the technique regularly7. This suggests that while hypnosis alone may not be sufficient for substantial weight reduction, it could serve as an effective tool within a broader behavioral modification framework.
Limitations of Hypnosis
While there is evidence supporting the use of hypnosis for weight management, several limitations must be acknowledged. The majority of studies conducted thus far have small sample sizes or lack rigorous methodological designs, leading to questions about the generalizability of their findings8. Moreover, individual differences in susceptibility to hypnosis can influence outcomes; not everyone responds equally well to hypnotic suggestions9. Therefore, practitioners must consider these factors when recommending hypnosis as part of a comprehensive weight management plan.
Conclusion
In conclusion, hypnosis presents a viable option for individuals seeking assistance with weight loss by promoting behavioral changes through enhanced suggestibility and motivation. However, its effectiveness is likely maximized when used alongside traditional methods such as diet modification and exercise programs. Future research should focus on establishing standardized protocols for hypnosis interventions tailored specifically for obesity treatment while addressing existing methodological shortcomings.
AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES
Elkins GR et al. "Advancing research and practice: the revised APA division 30 definition of hypnosis." American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis. 2015;57(4):378–385. [Link]↩
Bo S et al. "Effects of self-conditioning techniques (Self-Hypnosis) in promoting weight loss in patients with severe obesity: a randomized controlled trial." Obesity (Silver Spring)2018;26(9):1422–1429. [Link]↩
Pellegrini M et al. "The use of self-help strategies in obesity treatment: A narrative review focused on hypnosis." Current Obesity Reports. 2021;10(3):1–14. [Link]↩
Milling LS et al. "The effectiveness of hypnosis as an intervention for obesity: a meta-analytic review." Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice. 2018;5(1):29–45. [Link]↩
Esteghamati A et al. "Complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of obesity: a critical review." International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2015;13(2):e19678. [Link]↩
Antoun J et al. "Self-hypnosis was not associated with progression across stages or with significant weight loss after 3 weeks." BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):1–12.↩
Green JP et al. "Hypnosis and the treatment of smoking cessation and weight loss." Washington: American Psychological Association; 1999.↩
Kirsch I et al. "Hypnosis as an adjunct to cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy: a meta-analysis." Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1995;63(2):214–220.↩
Terhune DB et al. "Hypnosis and top-down regulation of consciousness." Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2017;81(Pt A):59–74.↩