Copyright (c) 2008 Mark Albertson

The escalation of obesity rates in this country has sparked a flurry of activity among both serious researchers and charlatans to discover the perfect weight loss method. A recent study of four diets revealed that the key to weight loss success isn’t the diet, but how closely you follow it. Investigators from Tufts-New England Medical Center (Journal of the American Medical Association, January 2005) have determined in a study of four popular diets that the key to successful weight loss is not the diet itself, but actually following the diet. In this one-year study of 160 overweight adults, the researchers split people into four diet groups:

· Weight Watchers (low calorie)

· The Zone Diet (low glycemic index)

· The Ornish Diet (low fat)

· The Atkins Diet (low carb)

The conclusion of the investigation was that all of these diets worked when the participants in the study followed them. The problem is that less than one in four were able to stay on their given diet for just this one year.

It should be noted that the hardest diet to follow was Atkins, followed by the Ornish Diet, but according to the authors of the study, “no single diet produced satisfactory adherence rates.” Hypnosis has been recognized as a both a method for helping people to adhere to their diets, and for re-training the mind to “think” like a lean person, in order to be able to give up dieting completely and to develop healthy eating habits that parallel the eating habits of lean people.

That being said, wild and exaggerated claims abound regarding hypnosis as it one of the more appealing methods dangled before the eyes of those who are hungry for a seemingly easy solution to a complex problem.

A careful review of the scientific literatures exposes many of the claims about weight loss through hypnosis on the internet as overly optimistic at best and openly fraudulent at worst.

Considerable controversy swirls around the mechanisms by which hypnosis actually contributes to weight loss. Leon (1976) suggested that hypnosis can help obese people team new healthier eating patterns and retain them. One author remarked that the hypnotic state is characterized by heightened concentration, suggestibility, and relaxation (Mott, 1982). Certain individuals are thought to be capable of achieving this state more readily than others. A so-called hypnotic “induction” whereby a hypnotist using certain procedures to bring an individual into the hypnotic state is not a prerequisite for achieving the state (Mott, 1982). Hypnosis, contrary to the claims of some intemet advertisers cannot magically reprogram people’s minds. In short, methods of hypnosis run the gamut from simple relaxation techniques to formal inductions administered by hypnotists, but should not be considered supernatural in its effects.

Studies showing weight loss as a result of hypnosis alone are few in number and suffer from methodological problems. Andersen (1985) reported that following 8 weekly treatment sessions and 12 weeks of practicing self-hypnosis subjects lost an average of 20.2 pounds. Cochrane and Friesen (1986) concluded that moderate weight loss was obtained by subjects using hypnosis. The experimental group, lost more weight than the controls and maintained the weight loss at a six month follow-up.

Mott (1982) stated that “although hypnosis is sometimes referred to as a method of treatment, it is more accurate to regard hypnosis as a facilitator of a number of different treatment methods.” The study concludes that the use of hypnosis for a moderate weight loss is effective using hypnotherapy. Hypnosis Plus Behavioral Weight Management A number of studies indicate that hypnosis combined with a behavioral weight management program contributes significantly to weight loss. Bolocofsky, Spinler, and Coulthard-Morris (1985) revealed that the addition of hypnosis to a behavioral program designed to alter eating patterns increased the amount of weight loss at 8-month and 2year follow-ups. Both the behavioral and hypnosis programs were tailored to each subject individually in the study. Bolocofsky et al. (1984) acknowledged that “the less a person weighed at the start of the program the more likely he was to lose weight and maintain the reduction”. Hypnosis combined with behavioral weight management seems to be more effective for small amounts of weight loss. Another study of 45 females found that supplementing a basic self-management program with hypnosis resulted in a slightly greater amount of weight loss at a 3-month follow-up (Barabasz and Spiegel, 1989). The group for which individualized hypnotic suggestions were developed lost more weight than those exposed only to a group procedure. Kirsch (1996) noted a weight loss of 6.00 pounds without hypnosis and 11.83 pounds with hypnosis based on a meta-analysis of six studies. Allison and Faith (1996), however, disagreed and maintained that hypnosis only enhances cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy slightly if at all. Long-term individualized hypnosis combined with a behavioral weight management program appears to contribute to modest weight loss and helps maintain it.

Hypnosis operates mainly as a way to increase participants’ attention to suggestions of behavioral programs as well as to reinforce their weight loss. Studies using behavioral treatments successfully “typically have developed incentive systems to bridge the gap between the short-term -reinforcers provided during treatment and long-term goal of weight reduction” (Bolocofsky et al., 1985). Hypnosis can fulfill this role by stepping in as a psychological reinforcer. Hypnosis may assist subjects in learning positive eating behaviors and creating healthy long-term patterns of food intake. Subjects are then more likely to incorporate the rules of a particular program into their behavioral regimes (Bolocofsky, 1985). Kroger (1970) points out the similarities between hypnosis and behavioral treatments which share an emphasis on visualization and imagination. The literature suggests that hypnosis is an ideal addition to behavioral weight management programs which tend to need supplementation to achieve long-term results.

The Hodgepodge Problem in Weight Loss Studies The use of subjects of varying ages and backgrounds represents one challenge that plagues studies of hypnosis as a useful treatment for weight loss. Andersen (1985) utilized subjects ranging in age from 21-56 years, a considerable spread. Subjects in another study ranged in age from 17 to 67 resulting in considerable potential differences between the control group and the hypnosis group (Bolocofsky et al., 1985). The fact that subjects were not matched with regard to age could exaggerate results of weight loss as a result of hypnosis that may more accurately be attributed to age differences. McCabe, Jupp, and Collins (I985) suggested a tendency for younger women to drop out of weight loss programs relative to older women leading to a possible masking of potential effects of age. Bolocofsky et al. (1984) indicated that successful hypnotic weight loss participants were higher in self-control, weighed less at the start of the study, married, and more expressive. A wide variety of factors influence whether a given subject will lose weight through a hypnotic weight loss program. Anderson (1985) cites the absence of matched subjects as a weakness in her experiment. More studies with subjects closely matched on various characteristics should be conducted to substantiate claims about the effectiveness of hypnosis for weight loss when combined with a behavioral program.

Most studies require weekly consultation with a hypnotist for 8 weeks or more in addition to self-hypnosis (Bolocofsky et al., 1984; Bolocofsky et al., 1985, Andersen, 1985; Cochrane & Friesen, 1986; McCabe et al., 1985). Internet advertisers who claim weight loss will occur following a single hypnotic session, especially a group hypnotic session, are frauds selling dreams to desperate customers. Allison and Faith (1996) underscore that “there is currently no panacea for the treatment of obesity and hypnosis is no exception”. Treatment using hypnosis then is not a quick and easy way out of weight troubles. In order to achieve any benefits from its use, hypnosis must be practiced on a regular basis for a significant period of time.

Conclusions and Limitations

Hypnosis has been shown to be an effective treatment for low to moderate amounts of weight loss. One qualification of this statement is that the hypnotic program should be tailored to each individual. Hypnosis is a process by which an individual enters a state of relaxation and heightened suggestibility, Transformation of the brain through some mysterious process defines only the hypnosis of pseudoscientists. Quick-fix hypnosis is probably much less effective than an 8 week program using both in-session hypnosis, at-home self-hypnosis, and behavioral weight management. The only people who claim hypnosis is easy, simple, and quick are those trying to sell people on their program. The largest obstacle in weight loss is its long-term retention, but follow-ups of hypnosis as a weight loss treatment have been conducted at the longest after two years. Weight loss tapes lack scientific evidence to support their success and should be purchased with this knowledge in mind. Weight loss through hypnosis has been largely ignored by scientists and more studies with control groups and large subject pools are required to understand its action and import.



Thanks to Mark Albertson for contributing this article to our Weight Loss blog:

Low Carb Diet Plans

The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Researchers Report describes the astonishing results of a study on how a low carb diet may reduce epileptic seizures. In the report, Dr. Eric H. Kossoff discusses the results of testing, which show a 50% reduction of epileptic seizures in a third of the participants after only three months on the diet.

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that is known for it’s main symptom, seizures. The seizures come unprovoked and there is no cure, but certain medications and diet can help reduced the number of seizures in certain patients. About 50 million people have epilepsy worldwide.

Previous studies on children show that a Ketogenic diet can help control the numbers of seizures. A Ketogenic diet, like the Atkins diet, reduces the amount of carbohydrates in your daily food intake. The goal of such diets is to ensure that 80 percent of calories are from fat instead of carbs.

The report stated that 30 participants spent six months on a reduced carb diet, where carbohydrates were reduced to 15 grams a day. The participants were required to have failed two other forms of anti-convulsive medicated treatment for people who have epilepsy to partake in the study. Each candidate had their meals controlled, eating mostly fatty foods like eggs, meat and heavy creams.

An Atkins-like diet is simple to do. There are many programs out there that are designed to reduce the number of carbohydrates you take in each day. As a diet, it is said that the reduction of carbohydrates helps people with weight loss because the diet encourages to burn more fat rather than carbs. Additional benefits, like the study on reducing seizures, has become a topic of research over recent years.

What Happened In The Study?

Roughly two thirds of the candidates described a reduction in the number of seizures. Nearly half of the patients continued the diet after the study was over as a method of controlling the seizures. The studies revealed that patients needed to stay on the diet in order to continue getting the results.

Is it promising? Yes, however, the results also showed that the diet wasn’t so easy to follow. 30% of the patients stopped the diet, even when they had reduced seizures, because they claimed the diet was too tough to continue. The research into linking diets as a form of treatment is still relatively new. Still, studies like this one are showing how following a healthy diet can help, even after other treatments are unsuccessful.

Doctors Suggest Making Diets Easier To Follow

According to doctors involved in the study, an Atkins or Ketogenic diet can be simplified to make it easier for consumers to follow. They suggested one could find a diet that is less restrictive and without the need of a supervising dietitian.

This is true with any sort of diet that you would partake in, in order to find a change in weight loss or a change in health issues. Keeping with the program is very important. Also, making sure while you are on the program that you make it easy to follow and stick to. If you make it too tough on yourself, you could lose all that effort. You could gain weight back or start finding yourself with the same symptoms again.

An Atkins-like diet is sometimes considered hard to handle. Less sugar sometimes makes people more irritable, at least at first. Your body must work harder in order to get energy it needs. A person might feel a little sluggish on a diet like this in the beginning.

Any diet you might attempt should be talked over with your doctor before hand. While on an Atkins-diet, it can help to start out slow. Reduce your carbs a little bit each week, instead of doing it all at once. Once you are down to your desired level of carbs, stick with the program for at least three to six months to observe any improvements.

A diet journal might help. Write down the foods you eat, and how you felt that day. If you are using such a diet on your own to help with seizures, make sure to note if you ever have one in the journal. Keep track of how many might occur. Also keep note of any additional medications you might be taking during that time.

How A Low Carb Diet Works

After you have committed to the diet plan, and you talk to your doctor, the next step is to select what foods you can eat. For such diets, carbs are very limited, so things like caffeinated drinks and alcohol are not to be used. You should also limit many fruits, breads, starches (like potatoes) and certain types of vegetables.

The basis of the diet is to eat mostly protein. On most diet plans, you can eat as much meat as you would like. You can eat a limited amount of cheese and vegetables. The diet often works because you don’t often go hungry as you can eat almost as much as you want. As long as you are following the diet plan of limiting carbs, you often have freer choices.

Some say the diet is easier to follow because there is less to think about. You know right off you can eat so many meats. What becomes hard is letting go of all those carbohydrates. Carbs are addicting and in a lot of the processed foods that we eat regularly. Breads, cereals, fruits, all sorts of things have carbs in them. You need to read labels on foods a bit more carefully.

Once you learn which foods you can eat, you can easily stick to it. Obviously, letting go of addicting carb filled foods can be tough at first. While the some diets recommend starting by cutting it all out at once, going slow at first might help. Talking with a doctor and doing your own research can help you create a plan that is right for you.

Exercise is not a recommended as necessary for this diet. It does help to exercise to increase muscle mass and to help lose unwanted pounds. It would prove an additional benefit. Exercise is not needed and doesn’t appear to be a consideration in the case of the studies on epilepsy and the results of being on a low carb diet.

Cautions of Dieting

As with anything you are doing different to your body, you should pay attention to anything that doesn’t seem normal. This might include increased dizziness, too rapid of weight loss, increase tiredness without signs of improving after a few weeks. It is recommended that you stop and see your doctor if conditions don’t improve after being taken off the diet.

These warnings go double for people who are trying to use these benefits to improve health, like lessoning epileptic seizures. If your epileptic seizures become worse or increase in number, consult your doctor right away. If you have other serious symptoms, consult your doctor. Talk to your doctor if you find symptoms that are abnormal, even if they are not yet severe.

Stopping seizures or to be able to reduce the frequency of them can provide hope for a great many people. The results of the study on children and the most current study show a lot of promise. Be safe when trying out a diet and make sure to do plenty of research.



Thanks to Dave J. Davies for contributing this article to our Weight Loss blog:

Top 10 Weight Loss Products

The Zone Diet is all about balance. Nothing is eliminated from the diet. Carbohydrates are enjoyed as are proteins and fats. The thing is they are the right proportion to each other and calories do matter in The Zone Diet.

The Zone Diet was invented by Dr. Sears. There is a website on The Zone Diet which explains the principles of this way of eating. They explain that The Zone Diet is not actually a diet but rather it should be a lifestyle. The key to the Zone Diet is getting the right proportions of fat, protein and carbohydrate into your diet. They promote that your diet consists of 40% carbohydrate, 30% fat and 30% protein. They do not prohibit any foods.

When you read about The Zone Diet you can not help but notice the common sense approach of this diet. When people go on low carbohydrate diets such as The Atkins Diet they often complain of fatigue. They are encouraged to eat as much fat and protein as they want to at the beginning. Dr. Atkins believed that this would undo what had been done psychologically by having constantly deprived yourself of much needed fats. He believed that fats were an important part of a diet and once people rejected the idea that fats were bad for you, they would enjoy fats again and eventually the body would take care of regulating how much you actually needed.

People soon found out as they ate as much steak and chicken skin as they wanted to that they had no energy to even climb a flight of stairs let alone try to exercise. As The Atkins Diet swept the nation, many newspaper articles began to surface on how The Atkins Diet was the perfect diet for sedentary couch potatoes. But for people who wanted to begin exercising and living a healthier lifestyle, it did not appear to be a smart choice. In contrast, people on The Zone Diet claim to have a lot of energy because they are eating in a sensible well balanced way right from the start.

The Zone Diet also puts an emphasis on a sensible old fashioned concept: counting calories. Many of the new fad diets of the eighties and nineties continued along the path of Dr. Atkins and promoted forgetting all about calories. Their claim was that counting calories made people begin to obsess about food. Many diets encouraged the idea that when eating well, the body will regulate appetite and the dieter will naturally be eating the right amounts especially since the idea of deprivation has been taken away.

The fact is that this approach has not worked for many people. Many people continue to overeat and simply don’t lose any weight. The Zone Diet has re-introduced common sense. Dr. Sears states that to achieve hormonal balance it is important to eat the right foods in the right proportion but also in the right quantity. His diet encourages eating snacks but the total daily caloric intake must be kept under a certain number. The Zone Diet spells out that to “stay in the zone” each meal must consist of 500 calories or less and each snack must be under 100 calories.

For people who have not had success with the latest diets and eating fads, it might be worthwhile to try a new fad which actually brings back age old tried and true concepts.



Thanks to Johnny Moon for contributing this article to our Weight Loss blog:

Safe Weight Loss Supplements