Can hypnosis help someone lose weight?
Is it helpful?
Professionals in the field of hypnosis may use this method to help people break bad habits of thinking and acting.
Some evidence shows that
this method may help some people lose weight. But more research needs to be
done to find out if this is a good long-term choice or not.
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A skilled therapist uses words, phrases, or techniques that are relaxing to help a client feel calm and in control during hypnosis. It is also possible to use music, guided imagery, positive self-talk, or guided relaxation.
People in these altered states of consciousness may be more focused and able to change their minds.
Proponents of these methods say that by using them, you can use latent skills that you wouldn't be able to use if you were operating at a logical, rational level of consciousness. Some studies have shown that hypnosis can help people lose weight.
Some people have said that hypnosis helped them
make healthy changes to their lives, like cutting back on calories and getting
more exercise.
Here, we'll explain what hypnosis is, how it might help you lose
weight, and what else you can do to get and stay at a healthy weight.
Clinical professionals who have had a lot of training in the
field can use hypnosis to help people focus and relax more. The Society of
Psychological Hypnosis says that hypnosis is a heightened state of awareness in
which the person is more focused and open to suggestions.
The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) thinks that when a person is under hypnosis, they don't become subservient to the hypnotist. Instead, they gain access to and control over their hidden talents and skills.
If a patient is calm, they may be more willing to follow their
doctor's or dietician's advice. When working in a medical setting,
hypnotherapists may be able to help patients lose weight.
Will it make a difference?
A review from 2021 says that hypnosis can help with weight loss when used with
other treatments. Even though there isn't much research on the long-term
effects of hypnosis for weight loss, a 2018 meta-analysis suggests that it
works well for short-term weight loss.
Research that published in 2020 shows that hypnosis can help
obese people lose weight and change their leptin levels in big ways. With the
help of the hormone leptin, people can control how much they eat.
In a 2018 randomized control trial, people who used
self-hypnosis were found to cut back on calories and exercise more than people
who didn't use it. This led to more weight loss.
The control group lost an average of 5.6 kilograms (13.23 lb) of
weight over a year, while the hypnosis group lost an average of 9.6 kilograms
(23.0 lb). People who learned hypnosis but didn't use what they had learned
lost an average of 6.5 kilograms (11 pounds).
There needs to be more research on the long-term effects of
hypnosis as a possible treatment for people who are overweight, but early
results suggest that it may help people lose weight in the short term.
How it looks and how much it costs.
In
general, hypnotherapists may be able to help their patients make positive
changes in their minds and bodies in three ways:
Using visualization to help a person imagine themselves succeeding, giving them ideas or suggestions that are in line with what they want, and doing unconscious work to find out if their past experiences are holding them back from reaching their goals is another skill that can be taught to people who want to learn it.
Self-hypnosis can help you focus and
calm your mind in the same way that meditation and other forms of mindfulness
practice can.
Depending on the patient's location, whether they have health
insurance, and the practitioner's rates, hypnosis sessions can be expensive or
cheap. If a patient is seeing a licensed therapist, their insurance may pay for
between 50 and 80% of their sessions.
The ASCH has an online search tool that can be used to find a hypnotist
who has been approved by the group.
So, this is what to expect.
Hypnotists are trained to explain to their patients how hypnosis
works and how they will be treated.
A 2018 study called a "meta-analysis" says that
hypnosis can be used alone or with other types of therapy, like cognitive
behavioral therapy, to help people who are overweight (CBT).
It is common for the practitioner to start with a hypnotic
induction, which is a way to get someone to fall asleep. Most inductions need
the person to focus on something, like breathing or a particular object.
As part of the process of putting the patient at ease, the
practitioner may use a soothing voice and words that make the patient feel
something.
People are more open to new information and points of view when
they are in a hypnotic trance, which is in line with how hypnosis works. The
clinician will now give advice on how to lose weight in the form of
affirmations and suggestions.
In a randomized, controlled study done in 2018, only regular
self-hypnosis was linked to more weight loss (Trustworthy Source). But after 12
months of practice, people felt fuller, their inflammation levels were lower,
and their quality of life was better.
Using hypnosis to lose weight can help a person's health and
lower their risk of getting some diseases. Some of these issues may be:
Heart disease caused by high blood pressure, stroke, type 2
diabetes, and gallstones is called the "triad of bad health."
Sleep apnea can lead to depression.
Concerns and possible dangers
Hypnosis is a process in which both the therapist and the client work together
to make changes for the better.
Hypnosis works best for people willing to change and who are
sure that hypnosis will help them do well. A hypnotist can't make someone do
something they don't want. Hypnosis has the downside that it might not always
work the way you want it to.
People with mental health problems like psychosis or a
personality disorder might want to avoid hypnosis because it could make their
symptoms worse.
The American Society for Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) recommends
that anyone who wants to try hypnosis find a trained professional with the
right credentials.
Help from Others on How to Lose Weight
Going to a doctor or another medical professional for advice on how to lose weight in a healthy way is a good place to start for anyone who wants to lose weight.
The
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (TRUSTED) says that changing a
person's diet and level of physical activity is the best way to lose weight.
People who want to lose weight may be told to change their diet,
get more active, and make other changes to their lives.
Changes in how one eats.
One
way to lose weight is to eat healthier. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) says that it is best to:
Choose low-fat or fat-free milk products and meats. using oils that already exist in nature, like olive oil, instead of oils that were made by people.
Avoid fast food, snack packs, and other processed foods. Put beans and nuts in
meals and figure out the right size for each serving.
Calorie-counting diets and apps for managing your weight on your phone
recommend drinking water instead of food when you're thirsty to avoid liquid
calories, like those in alcohol and soda.
Trying out a weight-loss plan
Advice You Can Trust About Working Out
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
says that adults in good health should be active for at least 150 minutes per
week at a moderate level.
People who want to lose weight and keep it off should do at
least 300 minutes of aerobic activity per week. Activities that can be
considered "physical" are:
Walking, hiking, jogging, dancing, and bicycling.
People are more likely to stick to their weekly exercise goals if they put time
on the calendar for physical activity and work out with a friend. This includes
Pilates, Yoga, swimming, and weightlifting.
Find out what good things exercise can do and how to get
started.
Changes in behaviour .
Hypnosis is one way to help people change their habits so they can lose weight.
Other ways are to talk to a counselor or dietitian or join a support group.
Here are some examples of changed behavior:
A food journal or app that you can trust can help you eat less
and feel fuller faster. Researchers have found that eating slower at meals
makes it more likely that you'll feel full afterward.
Use self-hypnosis, meditation, and "counting your blessings" to help you lose weight and celebrate your success with rewards that don't involve food.
Changing habits to avoid situations that lead to binge eating or overeating
between meals.
In short, hypnosis is a method in which a trained professional helps a person
get into a more focused state. When people are in a hypnotic state, they are
more open to therapeutic suggestions. So, some people might be able to lose
weight with the help of hypnosis.
Studies show that people who use self-hypnosis on a regular
basis are more likely to lose weight and keep it off than those who only use it
sometimes.
But there isn't much research on how well hypnosis helps people
lose weight in the long run. Because of this, it should only be used with other
ways to lose weight, like eating well and working out.
Summary.
Some evidence shows that hypnosis can help some people lose weight. But more research needs to be done to find out if this is a good long-term choice or not. A skilled therapist uses words, phrases, or techniques that are relaxing to help a client feel calm and in control.
Hypnosis can help you focus and calm your mind
in the same way that meditation and other forms of mindfulness practice can.
Depending on the patient's location, whether they have health insurance, and
the practitioner's rates, hypnosis sessions can be expensive or cheap.
The ASCH has an online search tool that can be used to find a
hypnotist who has been approved by the group. Using hypnosis to lose weight can
help a person's health and lower their risk of getting some diseases.
Hypnosis works best for people willing to change and who are sure it will help them. The American Society for Clinical Hypnosis recommends that anyone who wants to try hypnosis find a trained professional.
People who
want to lose weight and keep it off should do at least 300 minutes of aerobic
activity per week.
Use self-hypnosis, meditation, and "counting your
blessings" to help you lose weight. Other ways are to talk to a counselor
or dietitian or join a support group.
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