Losing Weight Through Hypnosis: Myth or Reality?
The hypnotic state is a high state of concentration, relaxation, and suggestibility. Hypnosis can make people learn positive eating behaviors. More and more people are starting to see hypnosis as an easy solution to the difficult problem of losing weight.
Through hypnosis, the attitude towards food is changed. Many people overeat as a substitute for love, well-being, or safety. Hypnosis sessions help people reduce the importance of food from their perspective and enjoy their food, only in smaller amounts.
Hypnosis also identifies triggers for eating, brings more confidence and self-esteem, and increase the desire for healthy foods.
The few studies that researched the connection between hypnosis and weight loss showed positive results, but were poised by certain methodological problems that question their accuracy. In one such study, overweight subjects lost almost twenty pounds after eight sessions of hypnosis treatment and twelve weeks of self-hypnosis. However, the results of this study were questioned because of the small number of patients.
Self-hypnosis is a process in which a person is hypnotized without another person that serves as a hypnotist. It is usually used for people who need to stay on a diet, stop smoking, or overcome other addictions.
People can lose weight using hypnosis and maintain the lower weight levels for six months, other studies concluded. No difference was noticed between overweight subjects who used audiotapes as a supplement for hypnosis therapy and those who did not.
Hypnosis along with behavioral weight management may lead to small amounts of weight loss and maintain the lower weight, other studies showed. For instance, people who had hypnosis therapy beside a self-management program lost almost twelve pounds while those who didn`t lost only six pounds over the same period of time.
Several factors influence a person’s hypnosis treatment for the purpose of losing weight. Age is one of such factors. The hypnosis treatment requires weekly consultations with a specialist, as well as self-hypnosis sessions.
Organizations that advertise “hypnosis” tapes and claim that one hypnotic session may result in substantial weight loss are most likely making unrealistic claims. Fast solutions to weight loss are not always efficient, and hypnosis is not an easy way to get rid of the extra pounds.
