Hypnosis Weight Loss Research
Why Hypnosis Can Work When Everything Else has Failed?
You would not be reading this if you had already found something that reliable worked for you. Let's face it, most people don't try alternative approaches unless they have not been successful with “traditional” methods.
With this in mind, the massive quantity of overwhelmingly successful cases you hear about hypnosis' positive effects on everything from Weight Loss to Smoking Cessation to a wide variety of other health and happiness conditions indicates that these successes are being experiences by the toughest cases. Those situations which have likely eluded other efforts time and time again. It's not just stories and anecdotes:
Peer-reviewed research indicates that hypnosis can be an effective tool in a person's weight loss efforts. It works by using your subconscious mind with your conscious goals.
Proven Results! Research indicates that hypnosis supports weight loss and more importantly supports long-term weight loss. Here are just three of hundreds of studies that come to mind:
Study One: Bolocofsky, David N.; Spinler, Dwayne; Coulthard-Morris, Linda (1985). Effectiveness of hypnosis as an adjunct to behavioral weight management. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 41 (1), 35-41.
Parameters - The first study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, divided 109 people into two groups for a 9 week study. The first group was treated with changes in diet and exercise habits without the addition of hypnosis. The second group was given the same diet and exercise program and was also given hypnosis for reinforcement. Immediate Results - After 9 weeks, not surprisingly, both groups lost weight due to the changes in diet and exercise while under supervision.
After the 8 months and 2-year follow-ups might surprise you.
-
The group that did not have hypnosis did not lose anymore weight and in fact most gained most of their weight back.
-
The hypnosis group, however, continued to lose weight during both intervals and the studies showed that far more people in the hypnosis group met their long term weight loss goals.
-
The hypnosis group continued the eating and exercise habits learned in the experiment while the non hypnosis group did not.
Study Two: Cochrane, Gordon; Friesen, J. (1986). Hypnotherapy in weight loss treatment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 489-492.
This next study, published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, investigated the effects of hypnosis in weight loss for 60 females at least 20% overweight and not involved in other treatment. The researchers interviewed each participant this time about their family background, educational background, and their belief as to their hypnotizability.
Parameters - The group was split into hypnosis and non hypnosis groups with both groups being given weight loss behavioral treatments and counseling.
Results - The results were very interesting.
-
The group using hypnosis lost an average of 17 pounds at the 6 month follow up.
-
The group that did not receive hypnosis only lost a half of a pound.
-
They also found that "hypnotizability" and social and educational backgrounds had nothing to do with the results.
Study Three: Kirsch, Irving (1996). Hypnotic enhancement of cognitive-behavioral weight loss treatments--Another meta-reanalysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64 (3), 517-519.
In this meta-analysis, (which is when researchers look across multiple studies), the results of the two studies I just mentioned and other studies were confirmed. In the studies of hypnosis versus no hypnosis
-
Short term
-
The average weight loss was 6 pounds for those not using hypnosis
-
While the average weight loss was 11.83 pounds with hypnosis.
-
Even more importantly, over the Long Term
-
The average weight loss without hypnosis remained at 6 pounds
-
With hypnosis it jumped to 14.88 pounds -- indicating again that the effects of hypnosis seem to continue over time.
These results are even more impressive when you consider that doing hypnosis under controlled conditions is extremely difficult. To have the research indicate that people are losing anywhere from about 2 to 16 1/2 times more weight under hypnosis, I believe clearly indicates that hypnosis should be used by anyone who is serious about weight loss.
