Extreme Weight Loss Hypnosis: Miracle or Myth? Discover the Truth Now!

Hypnosis is a technique that practitioners may use to help people change unwanted thoughts or behaviors. Some evidence suggests that this method may be an effective strategy to help some individuals lose weight. However, more research is necessary to determine whether it is a beneficial long-term option.

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis typically involves a highly trained therapist bringing a person into a relaxed state using therapeutic words, phrases, or techniques. It may also involve guided relaxation, self-talk, visualization, or music. When a person is in this altered state of consciousness, they may have a heightened sense of focus in which their mind is more open to change.

The Society of Psychological Hypnosis defines it as a state of consciousness involving focused attention and an enhanced capacity for responding to suggestions. According to the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH), a person is not under the control of the hypnotist but instead gains access to their own innate abilities. With a relaxed mindset, a person may be more receptive to a healthcare professional’s suggestions for lifestyle or dietary changes. Clinicians who use hypnosis may offer individuals help in achieving weight loss success.

Proponents suggest that these techniques enable a person to tap into resources within themselves that they cannot reach when fully conscious. Some research suggests that hypnosis is beneficial for weight loss. Certain individuals may find that hypnosis helps them make suitable dietary changes, eat fewer calories, and exercise more regularly.

How Hypnosis May Work for Weight Loss

Practitioners may be able to use hypnosis to help people bring about both psychological and physiological change in three main ways:

Using mental imagery to help a person visualize themselves accomplishing their goals
Presenting ideas or suggestions that are compatible with what a person desires
Unconscious exploring to identify whether past events or experiences are causing a personal problem in making positive changes

Research on Hypnosis and Weight Loss

According to a 2021 review, hypnosis may be a safe and effective adjuvant treatment for assisting weight loss. A 2018 meta-analysis also suggests that hypnosis is very effective for short-term weight loss, although the authors acknowledge the lack of research on its long-term effects. A 2020 study indicates that hypnosis may lead to weight loss and considerable changes in leptin levels in people with obesity. Leptin is a hormone that helps control food intake.

In a 2018 randomized control trial, regular self-hypnosis users reduced their calorie intake more significantly and lost more weight than those who did not use this technique. Those in the hypnosis group lost an average of 9.6 kilograms (kg) over a year compared with 5.6 kg among those in the control group. Individuals who learned how to use hypnosis but did not practice it regularly lost an average of 6.5 kg.

However, there is limited evidence on the benefits of hypnosis for maintaining long-term weight loss. Although evidence suggests that hypnosis may provide short-term benefits for weight loss, scientists conclude that more research is necessary on the long-term effects of hypnosis as a possible treatment option for individuals with obesity.

Self-Hypnosis

Individuals can also learn the technique of self-hypnosis. Self-hypnosis is similar to mindfulness techniques and meditation.

In one 2018 study, participants in two groups received individualized meal and exercise plans. One of the groups also received training in how to use self-hypnosis techniques to boost their sense of self-control right before eating. At the end of the trial, the self-hypnosis group had consumed fewer calories and lost more weight. They also said their quality of life was improved after the hypnosis intervention.

The Hypnotherapy Session

A hypnotist will clarify a person’s treatment goals and explain the process of hypnosis. The practitioner will typically start with a hypnotic induction, a process that guides a person into a hypnotic state. Most inductions require the person to focus their awareness on an object or their own breathing. During the induction, the practitioner may use a soothing tone of voice and picturesque words or phrases to help a person feel relaxed.

Once a person has entered a relaxed state of mind, the principles of hypnosis indicate that they are more open to new ideas. At this point, the clinician will make suggestions and affirmations for achieving weight loss. Hypnosis is a voluntary, generally safe, and potentially effective process that involves a person and a therapist working together to bring about positive changes.

Hypnotherapy sessions usually last between 50 minutes and 2 hours. Specific techniques vary from therapist to therapist, but many sessions begin with you finding a comfortable position, either seated or lying down. Next, you may be asked to close your eyes or to focus on a particular object. Your therapist may then lead you through a series of deep breathing exercises. When you’ve begun to relax, your therapist may guide you to envision a safe and calming place, such as a body of water you enjoy visiting. Once you’ve entered a deeply relaxed state, sometimes called a trance, your therapist may suggest healthy thought patterns or beliefs to replace the ones that aren’t working for you. Self-affirming words and phrases might also be part of your focus. Eventually, your therapist will gently invite you to refocus your attention on the “here and now.”

Once you’ve learned the process, you can use these meditative techniques on your own as you need them. In fact, some therapists include a suggestion in your hypnosis session that enables you to induce your own hypnotic state at a later time.

One of the most common benefits of hypnotherapy, whether self-induced or guided, is a sense of relaxation and calm. It has also been effective in lowering blood pressure.

Factors Influencing Hypnosis Effectiveness

Hypnosis works best for individuals who are willing to change and believe that hypnosis can help them reach their goals. A clinician cannot force hypnosis on a person or make them do something against their will.

Studies show that some people may be more responsive to the effects of hypnosis and thus more likely to benefit from it. For example, certain personality traits, such as selflessness and openness, may make a person more susceptible to hypnosis. Studies also found that susceptibility to hypnosis increases after age 40, and women, regardless of age, are more likely to be receptive.

About 5% of people are simply incapable of being hypnotized, according to Arreed Barabasz, a psychology professor at Washington State University in Pullman and author of many works on clinical hypnosis. There are others -- about 5%-7% of the population -- who are hypnotized very easily, allowing them to go into a trance-like state whenever they need to calm down or alleviate pain.

Cost and Insurance Coverage

The cost of hypnosis varies depending on which state a person lives in, insurance coverage, and the practitioner’s set fees. Most insurance companies cover 50-80% of the cost of individual therapy, but only if a person is receiving treatment from licensed professionals. The ASCH provides an online search tool to help people find a professional certified in hypnosis.

Hypnotherapy is usually inexpensive, and for most people, there aren’t any negative side effects.

Potential Risks and Side Effects

A risk of hypnosis is that it will not always work for everyone. Also, it may be advisable for people with mental health complications, such as psychosis or a personality disorder, to avoid using hypnosis, as it may make the condition worse.

Hypnosis is considered safe for most people if practiced under the guidance of a trained therapist. It isn’t a means for brainwashing or mind control. A therapist can’t control a person to the point of doing something embarrassing or something against their will.

Again, hypnosis is safe for most people. Adverse reactions are rare. Potential risks include:

Headache
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Anxiety
Distress
False memory creation

People who experience hallucinations or delusions should speak to their doctor before trying hypnotherapy. Also, hypnosis should not be performed on an individual under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Finding a Qualified Practitioner

For the best results, the ASCH recommends that people interested in hypnosis choose a practitioner who is properly trained and licensed and has the right credentials.

Barringer recommends that people work with a counselor or therapist who’s state-licensed in a mental health field, and who has also been specially trained in hypnotherapy. An experienced hypnotherapist who has undergone hypnotherapy personally is a big bonus, but Barringer stresses the importance of finding a therapist who’s trained through a respected hypnotherapy program.

You can find a certified hypnotherapist in your area using The Wellness Institute’s provider tool.

Additional Weight Loss Tips

A person may wish to start their weight loss journey by seeing a clinician for guidance on how to lose weight safely. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the most productive areas to focus on are the dietary and physical activity changes that can lead to long-term weight change.

Weight loss tips may include a combination of dietary changes, exercise, and behavioral changes.

Dietary Changes

Eating a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables
Choosing lean or lower fat sources of dairy and proteins
Using naturally occurring oils, such as olive oil, rather than processed oils
Avoiding highly processed foods such as chips, cookies, cakes, and fast foods
Incorporating legumes and nuts into meals
Measuring portion sizes
Counting calories or using weight loss apps
Drinking a glass of water instead of snacking, as thirst can sometimes feel the same as hunger
Minimizing liquid calories, such as those from alcohol and soda
Trying a weight loss program

Exercise Tips

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, adults in good health should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity each week. To lose weight or keep it off, a person may need at least 300 minutes per week of aerobic activity. Examples of physical activities include:

Walking
Hiking
Jogging
Dancing
Bicycling
Pilates
Yoga
Swimming
Weightlifting
Group exercise classes

Scheduling time for physical activity and exercising alongside a friend can help a person meet their weekly exercise targets.

Behavioral Changes

Along with hypnosis, a person can consult a counselor or dietitian or join a support group to help them adopt behaviors that can help with weight loss. Some behavioral changes include:

Taking at least 15 minutes to eat a meal to allow the brain time to send out signals of fullness
Recording food intake in a food diary or app
Practicing self-hypnosis, mindfulness, and meditation regularly
Using nonfood rewards to celebrate weight loss
Adjusting routines to limit overeating or snacking triggers

Study on Self-Hypnosis

One study aimed to assess the effect of audiotaped self-hypnosis on the stages and processes of change as defined by the TTM of change using a randomized controlled design. This was a 3-week double-blinded, randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled trial. Both audio files, which were distributed to participants via USB, lasted 15 min and were prepared in English by the same experienced hypnotist.

The study found that audio self-hypnosis had no statistically significant effect on weight loss after 3 weeks. Similarly, self-hypnosis resulted in a similar weight reduction as diabetic education in patients with diabetes type II. (Levenson & David Levenson, 2018). Self-hypnosis was associated with increased satiety and quality of life in patients with obesity but not with weight loss (Bo et al., 2018).

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