15 June 2012

Research Shows Hypnosis Is Effective In Assisting with Weight Loss

Submitted by: Leo Gopal

Investigated the effects of hypnosis in weight loss for 60 females, at least 20% overweight. Treatment included group hypnosis with metaphors for ego-strengthening, decision making and motivation, ideomotor exploration in individual hypnosis, and group hypnosis with maintenance suggestions. Hypnosis was more effective than a control group: an average of 17 lbs lost by the hypnosis group vs. an average of 0.5 lbs lost by the control group, on follow-up.

Reference:

Cochrane, Gordon; Friesen, J. (1986). Hypnotherapy in weight loss treatment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 489-492.

Two Years Later: Hypnosis Subjects Continued To Lose Significant Weight

109 people completed a behavioral treatment for weight management either with or without the addition of hypnosis. At the end of the 9-week program, both interventions resulted in significant weight reduction. At 8-month and 2-year follow-ups, the hypnosis subjects were found to have continued to lose significant weight, while those in the behavioral-treatment-only group showed little further change.

Reference:

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (1985)

Hypnosis Subjects Lost More Weight Than 90% of Others and Kept it Off

Researchers analyzed 18 studies comparing a cognitive behavioral therapy such as relaxation training, guided imagery, self monitoring, or goal setting with the same therapy supplemented by hypnosis.

Those who received the hypnosis lost more weight than 90 percent of those not receiving hypnosis and maintained the weight loss two years after treatment ended.

Reference:

University of Connecticut, Storrs Allison DB, Faith MS. Hypnosis as an adjunct to cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy for obesity: a meta-analytic reappraisal. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1996;64(3):513-516.

Hypnosis More Than Doubled Average Weight Loss

Study of the effect of adding hypnosis to cognitive-behavioral treatments for weight reduction, additional data were obtained from authors of two studies. Analyses indicated that the benefits of hypnosis increased substantially over time.

Reference:

Kirsch, Irving (1996). Hypnotic enhancement of cognitive-behavioral weight loss treatments–Another meta-reanalysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64 (3), 517-519.

Hypnosis Showed Significantly Lower Post-Treatment Weights

Two studies compared overweight smoking and non-smoking adult women in an hypnosis-based, weight-loss program. Both achieved significant weight losses and decreases in Body Mass Index. Follow-up study replicated significant weight losses and declines in Body Mass Index. The overt aversion and hypnosis program yielded significantly lower post-treatment weights and a greater average number of pounds lost.

Weight loss for women: studies of smokers and nonsmokers using hypnosis and multi-component treatments with and without overt aversion. Johnson DL, Psychology Reprints. 1997 Jun;80(3 Pt 1):931-3.

Hypnotherapy group with stress reduction achieved significantly more weight loss than the other two treatments.

Reference:

Randomised, controlled, parallel study of two forms of hypnotherapy (directed at stress reduction or energy intake reduction), vs dietary advice alone in 60 obese patients with obstructive sleep apnoea on nasal continuous positive airway pressure treatment.

J Stradling, D Roberts, A Wilson and F Lovelock, Chest Unit, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK

Hypnosis can more than double the effects of traditional weight loss approaches

An analysis of five weight loss studies reported in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 1996 showed that the “… weight loss reported in the five studies indicates that hypnosis can more than double the effects” of traditional weight loss approaches.

Reference:

University of Connecticut, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 1996 (Vol. 64, No. 3, pgs 517-519).

Weight loss is greater where hypnosis is utilized

Research into cognitive-behavioral weight loss treatments established that weight loss is greater where hypnosis is utilized. It was also established that the benefits of hypnosis increase over time.

Reference:

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (1996)

Showed Hypnosis As “An Effective Way To Lose Weight”

A study of 60 females who were at least 20% overweight and not involved in other treatment showed hypnosis is an effective way to lose weight.

Reference:

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (1986)

Contact Details

The South African Hypnosis Network [SAHN] is dedicated to bringing you the most valuable information regarding hypnosis - you can find us at www.HypnosisNetwork.co.za

Published in Health and Medicine

Leo Gopal is master hypnotist, influence expert, seasoned marketer and philanthropist to name just a few.

Leo began his journey in the hypnosis world when he was in his mid-teens many years ago. He began with an almost obsessive, contagious passion that has been described as a hypnotic fever to learn the arts.

He was trained, coached and mentored by many of the greats around the world and realised that the world is full of people like him but not as fortunate to learn from such great sources as resources for learning hypnotism was kept for “adults”.

Along with another teenage Hypnotist, Nathan Thomas, Leo Gopal co-founded the International Association for Teenage Hypnotists (IATH) in 2008 where they gave free hypnosis lessons and tutorials emphasising ethics and safety freely to other teens.

The popularity of IATH grew and its founders were also getting older where they noticed that almost half the members on IATH were appreciating their work in the hypnosis world and were much older than their teenage years, so in 2010 for IATH’s third anniversary – they re-launched the IATH as the International Association for Youth Hypnotists (IAYH) which it still is today.

Leo Gopal is also the founder and president of an International Hypnosis Training Institute called Tulsi Hypnosis Institute which has its head offices in his hometown in South Africa. As you can see, Leo has an immense passion for teaching and spreading knowledge of hypnosis.

Being passionate about the human mind, how it operates and how its influenced, Leo also has a deep rooted background in marketing, sales, influence and networking which he also teaches for the benefit of his various audiences.

Believing in the goodness of humanity, Leo has also brought to South Africa the movement of Pay It Forward, which is a movement believing that one should do good deeds for others and not expecting it to be paid back in return but to open up the caring to pay good deeds forward and eventually have it return full circle.

Leo has undertaken various projects to improve the state of hypnosis and hypnotherapy which he mostly does through his quality hypnosis training. However, he has a huge focus in the development of hypnosis in South Africa and is the creator of the South African Hypnosis Network (SAHN) which consists of a Hypnotist/Hypnotherapist Directory and resource base, a Hypnosis community Forum and access to the The Hypnosis Guild of Southern Africa. The aim is to create unity and community with hypnotists in South Africa and providing them with the resources needed to best benefit the industry at large.

Other than those many projects, he has an immense sweet tooth especially for Lindt and Ferrero chocolate, has been nicknamed by many as "The Enchanter" for his hypnosis style and his favourite word is “Awesome”. :)