Guest Post – Dr. Scott Lewis, The Power Of Hypnosis As A Weight-Loss Tool

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hypnosisHypnosis as a scientifically valid therapeutic tool is widely misunderstood and underestimated by the general public. However, countless studies conducted over the last 60 years by institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, and the Mayo Clinic prove that hypnosis works as a healing, an anesthetic, and a pain-management tool—providing real, measurable health benefits to patients, either on its own or in conjunction with other therapies and treatments.

One area of great interest to the general public is the use of hypnosis for weight loss.

One area of great interest to the general public is the use of hypnosis for weight loss. While hypnosis can influence perception (such as of pain control) or actual physiological processes (such as lowering blood pressure), hypnosis is also a valuable tool for effecting behavioral change. Studies have shown that hypnosis in conjunction with nutrition education and a cognitive behavior program for weight loss can yield remarkable results that last over time.

In an analysis published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Dr. Irving Kirsch assessed the outcomes of five weight-loss studies that used hypnosis as a supplement to cognitive behavioral therapy and found that subjects who used hypnosis lost 11.83 pounds, compared with subjects who did not use hypnosis and lost a mean of 6 pounds (a 97 percent increase in treatment efficacy).

Another study by Kirsch and his colleagues concluded that hypnosis paired with cognitive behavioral therapy for weight loss was 70 percent more effective than using behavioral therapy alone. Furthermore, patients who used hypnosis continued to lose weight long after their treatment had ended and achieved more dramatic weight loss than a control group for up to two years.

cookieStudies have also shown that certain hypnotic techniques can target “problem foods” (e.g., cookies, ice cream) that lead to overeating and weight gain. One of the most intriguing studies was published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, where researchers worked with 45 subjects who were 28 to 74 percent overweight and had tried unsuccessfully to lose weight on popular diets at least three times. Researchers split the subjects into three groups. The control group received advice about proper eating and portion control. The second group received the same advice plus general hypnosis suggestions about overeating and health. The third group received advice plus specific hypnosis customized to each individual’s particular problem foods.

At the end of the study, all three groups lost weight; however, the group that received general hypnosis suggestions lost 2 1/2 times as much weight as the control group. Additionally, the group that received customized hypnosis suggestions lost 5 times as much weight as the control group—demonstrating the power of personalized hypnosis suggestions to help support meaningful behavioral change.

Of course, hypnosis alone will not result in weight loss magically or without effort, but hypnosis used as an enhancement to a nutrition and fitness regimen can make a big difference and help you achieve significant, lasting results.

Guest Author, Dr. Scott Lewis, The Hypnosis Treatment Option

1 Comment

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