Is Hypnosis for Weight Loss Effective?

If you’ve been trying to lose a few pounds, you might have gone on a diet or sought a nutritionist. Well, one professional you might like to consider to help manage your weight is a hypnotherapist. But you’re probably wondering, “Is hypnosis for weight loss effective?”

Before we dive in, let’s talk a little about hypnosis.

What is Hypnosis? What does hypnosis feel like?

You’ve probably seen people swaying pocket watches and acting strangely in movies when they’re hypnotized.

But hypnotherapy is a common tool used to discover feelings, thoughts, or memories hidden from the subconscious mind.

During the session, the hypnotherapist guides you using verbal cues and repetition towards a deep state of relaxation or a trance. You might feel like you’re falling asleep.

At this point, you may become more open to suggestions or sharing latent experiences. Your hypnotherapist can direct you towards envisioning your future, attaining certain goals, or even adopting healthy habits.

Besides weight loss, hypnosis can be useful in addressing anxiety, phobias, relationship issues and even promotes better sleep.

How effective is hypnosis for weight loss?

While a balanced diet and exercise are still the mainstays for keeping a healthy weight, research on hypnosis for weight loss looks promising.

An early study in the 90s showed that the average weight loss experienced by the subjects was 14.88 lbs. (6.75 kg) while the others lost 6.03 lbs. (2.74 kg) without hypnosis.

But you can actually lose more.

In 2015, RedBook Mag featured a story of a 52-year-old woman who lost an incredible 240 pounds through hypnosis. Her hypnotherapy sessions helped her realize that she’s in control of her lifestyle. Aside from hypnosis, she also had self-esteem building exercises, motivational talks, and portion control training.

Even children have benefited from hypnosis. In 2017, the Internal Medicine Journal cited eight (8) obese adults and three (3) children who were successful in achieving their desired weight loss by hypnosis. Some of the effective techniques used were determining the root cause of anxiety, reframing, and emphasizing a healthy diet.

Interestingly, in this study, two women in their mid-40s were able to avoid surgery. They were able to visualize themselves getting rid of the ‘fat suit’ and junk food to attain their desired weight. One was able to lose weight even after a failed ‘lap band surgery.’

More recently, a 2018 study on the effectiveness of hypnosis on weight loss concluded that it can help participants lose weight in a short span of time. In fact, the participants who underwent hypnosis lost more weight than about 94% of those who did not receive any form of hypnosis. Amazing, right?

Before and After Weight Loss with Hypnotherapy

Related: Hypnosis for sugar addiction

What are the advantages of hypnosis for weight loss?

Unlike diet pills or surgery which may pose dangerous risks, hypnosis is non-invasive.  Besides this, it’s a safe procedure when done with a certified hypnotherapist like Carla Chalah, owner of Hemisphere Hypnotherapy and, EveryBody in Mind Wellness Center. Carla also enjoys integrating Ajna Light Therapy and Crystal Bed Therapy in her sessions.

You can easily combine hypnosis with behavioral therapy and a weight loss regimen without worrying about adverse reactions or side effects.

If you’ve been doing all sorts of diets but haven’t hit your weight loss goal yet, consider hypnosis. While the number of sessions varies based on your goals, typically it would be 3-6 sessions, an hour each.

This transformative treatment can work in two ways. First, it can help uncover any underlying experiences or trauma that might have led to your current issue with weight.  Second, it can help you find healthier substitutes for habits like binge-eating, emotional eating, or a sedentary lifestyle and then guide your subconscious toward those activities.

What’s good about hypnosis is that it prompts your brain to make changes — adjustments that can lead to more than just weight loss but a healthier lifestyle over time and better personal boundaries.

So, would you try hypnosis to lose weight?