The Use of Self-Help Strategies in Obesity Treatment. A Narrative Review Focused on Hypnosis and Mindfulness.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the potential and limitations of mindfulness strategies in treating obesity, particularly in improving dysfunctional eating behaviors and weight loss.
Results Summary
The study found that mindfulness, when combined with other psychological therapies, diet, and physical activity, improves weight loss, food awareness, self-acceptance, and reduces food cravings and emotional eating. However, long-term effectiveness and clinical integration require further research.
Population
Patients with obesity
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
psychological approaches to weight management | increase | motivation and self-control | patients with obesity | - | could increase | #1 |
psychological approaches to weight management | decrease | impulsiveness and inappropriate use of food | patients with obesity | - | limiting | #2 |
hypnosis and mindfulness | increase | weight loss programs | - | - | could represent additional strategies to increase the effectiveness | #3 |
hypnosis and mindfulness | increase | dysfunctional eating behaviors, self-motivation, and stimulus control | - | - | improving | #4 |
hypnosis | increase | weight loss, food awareness, self-acceptance of body image | - | - | improving | #5 |
hypnosis | decrease | food cravings and emotional eating | - | - | limiting | #6 |
mindfulness | increase | weight loss, food awareness, self-acceptance of body image | - | - | improving | #7 |
mindfulness | decrease | food cravings and emotional eating | - | - | limiting | #8 |
hypnosis and mindfulness | increase | effectiveness | - | - | Greater effectiveness occurs when associated with other psychological therapies in addition to diet and physical activity | #9 |
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this narrative review was to summarize the evidence evaluating the possibilities and limitations of self-hypnosis and mindfulness strategies in the treatment of obesity. RECENT FINDINGS: Psychological factors, such as mood disorders and stress, can affect eating behaviors and deeply influence weight gain. Psychological approaches to weight management could increase the motivation and self-control of the patients with obesity, limiting their impulsiveness and inappropriate use of food. The cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) represents the cornerstone of obesity treatment, but complementary and self-directed psychological interventions, such as hypnosis and mindfulness, could represent additional strategies to increase the effectiveness of weight loss programs, by improving dysfunctional eating behaviors, self-motivation, and stimulus control. Both hypnosis and mindfulness provide a promising therapeutic option by improving weight loss, food awareness, self-acceptance of body image, and limiting food cravings and emotional eating. Greater effectiveness occurs when hypnosis and mindfulness are associated with other psychological therapies in addition to diet and physical activity. Additional research is needed to determine whether these strategies are effective in the long term and whether they can be routinely introduced into the clinical practice.