Can Hypnosis Help with Weight Loss?

When you think of hypnosis, what thoughts come to mind? People on stage acting strangely to make an audience laugh? Help for people in pain, or those with phobias? Perhaps a way to quit smoking? Whatever you feel about hypnosis, does it help with weight loss or is it hocus pocus? Studies show that it can work, but it’s no substitute for healthy eating and regular physical activity. Read on to find out if hypnosis might benefit you.

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What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a sleep-like state in which a person is more responsive to suggestions then when they are in their usual day-to-day waking state. Hypnosis can be used for many things, such as pain relief, quitting smoking and helping people with psychological problems such as anxiety.

Hypnosis is best conducted by health professionals trained in hypnotherapy, often a psychologist or psychiatrist. Get a referral through your GP. People can also hypnotise themselves using self-hypnosis.

How Can Hypnosis Help with Weight Control?

Hypnosis can make healthy food seem more appealing

By implanting ideas into the subconscious mind, a hypnotherapist can help people believe certain things to encourage them to behave in certain ways. While under hypnosis, a person might be told they are better able to:

Control their portion sizes.
Resist unhealthy food at parties.
Resist emotional eating (comfort eating).
Enjoy eating healthy salads and other things.

What do the studies say about how good hypnosis is for weight loss? Over the years many studies have evaluated hypnosis for weight loss. Most found positive but modest results. How well some studies were performed has been questioned, so it’s hard to find how useful hypnosis really is for weight loss.

How Safe is Hypnosis?

Fatigue can be a side effect of hypnosis

If you’re worried about turning into a crazy zombie or spaced-out lunatic, don’t fret – negative effects from hypnosis are rare. Hypnosis can worsen some psychological problems, for example it can cause "false memories" in people with post-traumatic stress disorders. Other possible side effects may include one or more of the following: fatigue, anti-social actions, panic attacks, confusion and drowsiness, so it’s important to be under the close supervision of a hypnotherapist.

Hypnosis isn’t a magical cure for weight control, but it may help when conducted under the safety of a qualified hypnotherapist.

For further reading about hypnosis, visit the website of the Australian Hypnotherapists’ Association: www.ahahypnotherapy.org.au

If you want ideas to prevent weight gain during the Christmas season, check-out CalorieKing Australia's articles under "Related articles" below.

References :

This article was compiled in consultation with CalorieKing.com.au experts and in reference to the following sources:

Canadian Living.com, 'How hypnosis might help you shed pounds', http://www.canadianliving.com/health/nutrition/how_hypnosis_might_help_you_shed_pounds.php

Hypnocentre, 'Possible Dangers and Complications (in Treatments Using Hypnosis)', http://www.hypnocenter.com/article.php?article_id=31

MayoClinic.com, 'Weight-loss hypnosis: Does it work?' http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss-hypnosis/AN01617

Vickers, A. and Zollman, C. 'Hypnosis and relaxation therapies', British Medical Journal, 1999, November 20; 319 (7221): 1346-1349.

Wikipedia, 'Hypnosis', http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnosis#Potential_dangers

Last updated: December 17th, 2008

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