Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology Studies on Weight Loss
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. Cochrane, Gordon; Friesen, J. Hypnotherapy in weight loss treatment. J Consul Clin Psychol 1996, 64 (3) 489-492.
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. 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.
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. University of Connecticut, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psycho. 1996;64(3) 517-519).
The first meta-analysis published by Kirsch, Montgomery & Saperstein in (1995) looked at six studies relating to obesity and concluded that “the addition of hypnosis substantially enhanced treatment outcome”. They noted that participants in the hypnosis groups seemed to perform particularly well at follow-up, in particular that they continued to lose weight after the treatment ended.
Allison & Faith (1996) made some criticisms of the Kirsch, et al, (1995) study, noting that some of the reported effect sizes were particularly large and variable (both within and between studies), that long-term follow up data was only available for one study (Bolocofsky et al, 1985), and that not all studies were done on obese patients. They re-analyzed the original data and concluded that when hypnosis is added to CBT panacea for the treatment of obesity and … hypnosis is no exception.”
In response to the above objections, Allison & Faith (1996) re-analysis, Kirsch (1996) re-analyzed the weight loss data using additional data obtained from authors of two of the original studies. He concluded that “the addition of hypnosis appears to have a significant and substantial effect on the outcome of cognitive- behavioral treatment for weight reduction.” He acknowledged that the amounts of weight lost in hypnosis and control conditions in all studies are relatively small, but “nevertheless, the mean weight loss reported in the five studies indicate that hypnosis can more than double the effects of a cognitive-behavioral treatment.”
Other studies for weight loss:
- Anderson MS. Hypnotizability as a factor in the hypnotic treatment of obesity. Int J of Clin and Exp Hyp. 1985 33:150-59.
- Barabasz M, Spiegel D. Hypnotizability & weight loss in obese subjects. Int J of Eating Disorders. 1989 8(3):335-41.
- Bolocosky DN, Spinler D, Coulthard-Morris L. Effectiveness of hypnosis as an adjunct to behavioral weight management. J Clin Psychol. 1985 Jan; 41(1):35-41.
- Cochrane G, Friesen J. Hypnotherapy in weight loss treatment. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1986;54:489-92.
- Dalle Grave R, Todesco T, et al. Cognitive-behavioural guided self-help for obesity: a preliminary research. Eat Weight Disord. 2004; Mar;9(1):69-76.
- Dornelas EA, Wylie-Rosett J, Swencionis C. The DIET study: long-term outcomes of a cognitive-behavioral weight-control intervention in independent-living elders. Dietary Intervention: Evaluation Technology. J Am Diet Assoc. 1998 Nov;98(11):1276-1281.
- Finkelstein EA, Fiebelkorn IC, Wang G. State-level estimates of annual medical expenditures attributable to obesity. Obes Res. 2004;Jan;12(1):18-24.
- Golay A, Buclin S, Ybarra J, Toti F, et al. New interdisciplinary cognitive-behavioural-nutritional approach to obesity treatment: a 5-year follow-up study. Eat Weight Disord. 2004;Mar;9(1):29-34.
- Kirsch I. Hypnotic enhancement of cognitive-behavioral weight loss treatment – another meta-re-analysis. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1996; June;64(3):517-9.
- Rapoport L, Clark M, Wardle J. Evaluation of a modified cognitive-behavioural programme for weight management. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2000; Dec;24(12):1726-1737.
- Stradling J, Roberts D, Wilson A, Lovelock F. Controlled trial of hypnotherapy for weight loss in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders. 1998 Mar; 22(3):278-81.
