Huntingdon Valley, PA

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Hypnosis More Than a Suggestion in Weight Loss Effort

It is a question some people ponder for years: Can hypnosis help me lose weight?

Indeed, a June 9th story in the Health section of the Los Angeles Times answers the question on the effectiveness of hypnosis for weight loss with a resounding "maybe"

There are those who have a firmer answer. One clinical psychologist and hypnosis expert answers the weight loss hypnosis question with an unequivocal "yes"

"When combined with a behavioral weight management treatment plan, hypnosis has been shown to be an effective tool for achieving low to moderate amounts of weight loss," says Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist, clinical hypnotist and hypnotherapist, who heads up the Hypnosis Help Center of Philadelphia.

"There have been few clinical trials to test hypnosis as a weight-loss technique," the Times piece contends. "But one 1995 review of studies comparing cognitive behavioral therapy alone with the therapy in combination with hypnosis found a small enhancement of weight loss results with the addition of hypnosis. Another 1996 study found that after two years, people who had behavioral therapy alone lost an average of six pounds, whereas those who had behavioral therapy with hypnosis lost almost 15 pounds"

"Hypnosis may help some people," the column concludes. "But it is one part of a wide-ranging program of behavioral change along with education on diet and exercise"

Dr. Eimer has more to say about such studies but has this to say about hypnosis: "Hypnosis is a tool that helps you focus on precisely what you want -- your goals -- for example, to be a thinner person at your desired weight. Hypnosis can help you harness the power of your imagination to see yourself doing what you must do to achieve your goals -- for example, to lose weight. For losing weight, this would require changing your eating and exercise habits along with your self image. Hypnosis can help you do these things"

"Hypnosis is a method whereby you are helped to open up a new channel of communication with your body and your mind, through your mind," Eimer says. "With the help of a qualified clinical hypnosis practitioner, you are guided into a state of focused concentration and mental and physical relaxation in which your suggestibility is heightened and your imagination is stimulated. In this state, the part of your mind that controls your habits -- your subconscious mind -- is more receptive to constructive suggestions for changing your eating habits and improving your self-care"

"Once emotional eating factors are made conscious," Eimer says, "Hypnosis - whether at the office or at home with specially made CDs - can be used to help you change them to more positive motivators so that you can make better choices under stress"

"The hypnotic program must be tailored to the individual," this psychologist and hypnotherapist says. "It requires a time-intensive program and considerable effort and responsibility on the part of the weight loss client or patient, who then learns to trust the hypnotist as well as himself when using self-hypnosis"

As for the studies about weight loss and hypnosis, Eimer agrees with the L.A. Times piece to a point: "There is a dearth of findings for men. More research studies with control groups and large subject pools are necessary to help us better understand how and how much hypnosis can really help committed people lose weight"

Along with practical knowledge, dieting and exercise, "hypnosis, self-hypnosis and cognitive-behavioral skills provide the best tools based on the research and my own clinical experience," Eimer says. "I would add any needed group counseling or psychotherapies"

HERE ARE DR. BRUCE EIMER'S TOP HYPNOSIS TIPS FOR LOSING WEIGHT.

Hypnosis can help you to . . .

-- Recognize why you overeat and to find alternative coping strategies

-- Interrupt your continuous preoccupation with food

-- Correct the mistaken belief that many or all body messages mean you are hungry

-- Release feelings of stress that had been influencing your frequent eating

-- Change your unhealthy eating patterns and behaviors

-- Engage in new behavioral habits that start burning calories

-- Substitute self-hypnosis and relaxation for overeating

-- Start "ego strengthening" and self-esteem boosting

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Bruce Eimer, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania. He is a Board Certified Diplomat with the American Board of Professional Psychology in the specialty of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology. He is also a Fellow and Approved Consultant with the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis and a Life Member of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Eimer also holds board certifications in pain management, medical psychotherapy and vocational neuropsychology.

For more information, visit: www.HypnosisHelpCenter.net

Or, to interview Dr. Eimer, call: 215.947.7867, or e-mail: dr.eimer1@comcast.net

Dr. Bruce Eimer

President

Alternative Behavior Associates

Huntingdon Valley, PA

215-947-7867

215-947-7860

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