| For many people hypnosis conjures up the image of a | | | | understand how it works, there is significant evidence |
| man of stage making someone do something | | | | that hypnosis can be effective in helping people reach |
| completely foolish but weight loss through hypnosis | | | | into their own unconscious resources to solve |
| seems even sillier. | | | | problems normally beyond their ability". |
| But there is solid evidence that a person can achieve | | | | This in fact shows that the scientific community |
| quick and lasting weight loss results by using hypnosis. | | | | believes that indeed it is possible for someone to |
| But firstly let's look at what hypnosis is? | | | | achieve weight loss through hypnosis. |
| According to Contemporary Psychiatric Mental Health | | | | In the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology |
| Nursing hypnosis or as it is more commonly known | | | | 1996 a report regarding meta-analysis (comparing |
| hypnotherapy is "the therapeutic use of suggestion | | | | multiple studies) showed that adding hypnosis |
| when a person is in an altered state of consciousness | | | | increased weight loss by an average of 97% when |
| in order to effect positive changes in that person's | | | | people were being treated. But even more important |
| behavior and so treat a range of health conditions". It | | | | this increased the effectiveness of post treatment by |
| has not only been used to decrease the pain a person | | | | over 146%. So this has shown that hypnosis can work |
| is feeling but also for weight control. | | | | even better if used over longer periods of time. |
| In a publication (Warren 2003) there was a statement | | | | Whilst in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical |
| that "Hypnosis is a way to access the untapped | | | | Psychology 1986 a study was carried out on 60 |
| power of the mind and alter brain functions. In this | | | | women and they were separated into hypnosis |
| state of intense relaxation and concentration the mind | | | | versus non-hypnosis groups. It was found that those |
| is able to focus on positive suggestions which can be | | | | women using hypnosis lost an average of 17lbs whilst |
| carried out at a future time. These subliminal | | | | those in the non-hypnosis group only lost an average |
| messages are surprisingly powerful." | | | | 5lbs. |
| Then at the 54th Annual Conference in November | | | | So as you can see weight loss through hypnosis is |
| 2003 of the Society for Clinical and Experimental | | | | very effective and may be more people should look at |
| Hypnosis, Dr David Spiegel (Stanford University | | | | trying it in the future. |
| researcher) said "that although we don't fully | | | | |