When Dateline NBC put six overweight people in a weight loss challenge last year, the person using hypnotherapy as the only technique lost more than those doing Slimfast and almost the same as the one following Weight Watchers.
Weight loss is only second to smoking in the list of reasons people seek out a hypnotherapist. A person becomes overweight because of a set of unhealthy habits that she cannot change consciously. "A person who suffers from being overweight simply has some non-useful beliefs about food and nutrition," says Vaknin. "He shares some common habits with other overweight people, like eating the non nutritional food, not listening to his/her body, its needs and demands and so on."
Because the issue of weight is so intricate, it usually takes longer than other habits to be changed and requires active participation on the part of the therapist, rather than only guidance. "We deal usually first with the self image of the client, and then go directly to the main three or four habits that contribute to this condition," says Vaknin. If the client can change the set of beliefs that made her overweight in the first place, then it's easier to change the unhealthy everyday habits that go with it. "Knowing what your body needs, what it deserves to have, what each compulsion means (for example, the urgent need for sugar doesn't really mean it has to be something sweet) – all of these combined, will create a set of values and beliefs that encourage better weight management," adds Vaknin.
Advantages
It's non-invasive; when done under the supervision of a qualified hypnotherapist, it's also safe.
There's no one-fits-all solution. Sessions can be adapted to the needs of every patient.
It's often successful where conventional treatments have failed.
Contrary to popular "miracle cures," Hypnotherapy does not promise a magic answer to weight loss. Hypnotherapy helps the patient deal with the reasons she's overweight, but the actual work has to be done by the patient.
Hypnotherapy promotes lifestyle changes. If the person doesn't change the beliefs that make him or her overindulge and doesn't learn to put long-term wellness above immediate satisfaction, any change in weight brought in by dieting is not likely to be permanent. "Hypnotherapy deals with the core, the actual processes the mind goes through, and therefore it stays for life," says Vaknin.