Hypnosis For Weight Loss...Does it Work?

Close your eyes. You’re getting sleepy. Very, very sleepy. When I count to 3, all of your food cravings will disappear in 1…2…3…

Did it work? Did thoughts of that glorious double-double from In-N-Out vanish out of thin air?

I was recently watching a TV show where a young girl had been struggling with binge eating disorder which is “a severe, life-threatening, and treatable eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food (often very quickly and to the point of discomfort)… It is the most common eating disorder in the United States” (National Eating Disorder Association). The girl went to hypnotherapy, where she was induced into a state of hypnosis that she stated ultimately helped her with her binge eating.

So, it got me thinking. Does hypnosis actually work when it comes to weight loss? Now, I know that hypnosis is used for a wide array of different psychological issues, and I fully believe that it has its benefits. But, what is the research saying in terms of sustained, healthy weight loss in individuals? Let’s find out.

Let’s start by understanding what hypnosis actually is. According to the North Carolina Society of Clinical Hypnosis, hypnosis is, “a natural state of selective, focused attention and it remains one of the most fascinating phenomena of the human mind. Hypnosis, called by different names in different cultures and times, has been recognized for thousands of years and used for many purposes. Hypnosis has been used in the treatment of pain, depression, anxiety, stress, habit disorders, and many other psychological and medical problems. However, it may not be useful for all psychological problems or for all patients or clients.”

The Research:

After sifting through research, it seems as if the bulk of it was done in the ’90’s. In one meta analysis, it was found that those who used hypnosis lost more than twice as much weight compared to those who didn’t. The data also suggested that the effects of hypnosis increases over time, which may suggest that this method is especially useful for long-term maintenance of weight loss (Kirsch, 1996).

Another study done in the ’80's revealed that overweight women who were undergoing hypnosis lost 17 pounds, compared to 0.5 pound for the subjects who were simply given nutrition education (Cochrane & Friesen, 1986).

But, what about recent studies? Well, those seem to be lacking.

One 2014 review analyzed 14 studies that investigated mindfulness meditation as the main intervention for alleviating binge eating, emotional eating and/or weight changes (Katterman et al, 2014). Note that mindfulness meditation is slightly different from hypnosis in that instead of a trained professional hypnotizing you, the subject is recalling internal experiences on their own. In general, both methods are trying to get the participant to tap into their subconscious mind. After reviewing the 14 studies, results concluded that overall, these mindfulness-based interventions are effective treatments for emotional eating, but incorporating these interventions alone does not appear to result in weight change (Katterman et al, 2014).

Additionally, a 2014 study found that women using hypnosis improved their weight, BMI, eating behavior and body image (Gelo et al, 2014). However, the sample size was relatively small.

Speaking of body image, that brings up an interesting point. Track Stein, PhD, MPH, a health psychologist American Society of Clinical Hypnosis-certified in clinical hypnosis and the former Director of Integrative Medicine in the Department of Surgery at Columbia University wants the public to realize that hypnosis isn’t meant to be a “diet” (Shape Magazine, 2018). Instead, she explains that hypnosis can specifically help people resolve the underlying psychological problems causing them to hate exercise or eat mindlessly.

Not Getting Sleepy? There’s a Possibility Hypnosis May Not Even Work For You…

That’s right, even if you are believing the hype and want to try for yourself, research has shown that not everybody has the ability to be hypnotized. Medical doctor David Spiegel reports on new research from the Stanford University School of Medicine (Brandt, 2012). In this Stanford study, Spiegel reports that about one-quarter of the patients he sees cannot be hypnotized (ScienceDaily, 2018).

The Take-Away:

When you look at the research, it’s evident that most studies on hypnosis and weight loss did result in some improvement in BMI and weight. However, many of these studies are outdated, contain a small sample size, or make it clear that hypnosis alone wasn’t the cause of the weight loss (as seen in the Katterman study). It’s not a magic pill, nor is it a calorie-restricted weight loss plan. Instead, it can be understood that hypnosis is a way to treat the underlying problem of why people are overeating, which, in my opinion, is a wonderful tool for so many Americans struggling with weight. It’s often not that people don’t know what they need to do to achieve a great physique and healthy mind, but there’s often an emotional component behind why people can’t seem to lose those extra pounds. Emotional and other forms of disordered eating is extremely powerful, as is the mind in itself.

From what has been found, hypnosis alone isn’t the answer to sustained weight loss, but coupling it with traditional, evidence-based methods (such as a healthy diet and exercise) may help those struggling with emotional eating which may then lead to a drop in weight.

References:

(1) National Eating Disorder Association. Binge Eating Disorder, National Eating Disorder Association, https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/bed. Accessed 26 Feb. 2018.

(2) North Carolina Society of Clinical Hypnosis. What is Hypnosis?, North Carolina Society of Clinical Hypnosis, nchypnosis.org/what-is-hypnosis/. Accessed 26 Feb. 2018.

(3) Kirsch, Irving. "Hypnotic Enhancement of Cognitive-Behavioral Weight Loss Treatments—Another Meta-Reanalysis." Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, vol. 64, no. 3, 1996, pp. 517-19. Accessed 26 Feb. 2018.

(4) Cochrane, G., & Friesen, J. (1986). Hypnotherapy in weight loss treatment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54(4), 489-492.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.54.4.489

(5) Gelo, OC, A Zips, E Ponocny-Seliger, K Neumann, and R Balugani. "Hypnobehavioral and hypnoenergetic therapy in the treatment of obese women: a pragmatic randomized clinical trial." The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, vol. 62, no. 3, 2014, doi:10.1080, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24837060. Accessed 26 Feb. 2018.

(6) Anderson, Charlotte H. "Everything You Need to Know About Hypnosis for Weight Loss." Shape Magazine, https://www.shape.com/weight-loss/tips-plans/everything-you-need-know-about-hypnosis-weight-loss. Accessed 26 Feb. 2018.

(7) Katterman, Shawn, Brighid Kleinman, Megan Hood, Lisa Nackers, and Joyce Corsica. "Mindfulness meditation as an intervention for binge eating, emotional eating, and weight loss: A systematic review." Jan. 2014, commonweb.unifr.ch/artsdean/pub/gestens/f/as/files/4660/52646_153553.pdf. Accessed 27 Feb. 2018.

(8) Brandt, Michelle. Not getting sleepy? Research explains why hypnosis doesn't work for all., 3 Oct. 2012, https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2012/10/not-getting-sleepy-research-explains-why-hypnosis-doesnt-work-for-all.html. Accessed 27 Feb. 2018.

(9) Stanford University Medical Center. "Not getting sleepy? Why hypnosis doesn't work for all." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 3 October 2012. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121003195139.htm>.

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