Hypnosis - on Weight Management - Research Paper Example

Hypnosis: Research on Weight Management I.D. of the Hypnosis: Research on Weight Management Introduction Definition and background of the topic There is no single agreeable definition of hypnosis. However, the commonality between all definitions and practices around hypnosis is that the process has two primary aspects. Firstly, a hypnotist is needed who conducts the hypnosis. Secondly, persons willing to undergo hypnosis must participate in the process. Narrowing down from this broader view of hypnosis, we can focus on a particular subtopic of therapeutic hypnosis. In this paper, we will research and discuss primarily on the use of therapeutic hypnosis aiming at weight management. What has research into the topic uncovered? Cognitive-behavioral treatment or CBT is an accepted psychological intervention which helps patients to achieve loss of body weight and avoid the risks associated with the diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and even cancer (Kirsch 1996; Montgomery et al 2013). However, as early as the mid 1990s, Kirsch (1996) pointed out that if hypnosis is applied in conjugation with CBT, then the chances of loosing weight increases nearly twofold. In his study, Kirsch (1996) found that people who used both CBT and hypnosis showed a treatment efficacy of around 147% compared to those who utilized CBT alone. On the other hand, researchers like Allison et al (2001) appear to be skeptical toward the success in weight management due to hypnosis. According to Allison et al (2001), hypnosis can not qualify as an entirely alternative treatment regimen with respect to CBT, and hypnosis alone can not help much in weight management. Yet, Montgomery et al (2013) think that hypnosis can play a very important role in weight management for cancer patients. Combining hypnosis and CBT, doctors can help in giving rise to a more comfortable treatment regimen for obese cancer patients by lessening the overall strictness and stress associated with CBT rather than hypnosis. Hypothesis Hypnosis, in combination with CBT, can help in creating a highly effective weight management scheme. Hypnosis alone, too, can prove to be helpful for achieving loss of weight along with dietary controls. Methods Subject of the experiment The main issue to be resolved in this research is whether hypnosis alone can help in weight management or not. For this purpose, an experiment can be conducted over willing participants. In this experiment, the subjects will undergo hypnosis inside a controlled environment. Session for conducting hypnosis on a subject can be arranged at least once daily. With regard to ethical issues, every subject must be informed about the process of hypnosis and the methods of the experiment they are undergoing. The experiment will be run for at least three months. Body weights of the subjects will be monitored fortnightly. The main aim of the hypnosis sessions will be convincing the subjects for putting more dietary controls and follow them sincerely. If necessary, this aim of convincing will have to be created with the help of generation of compulsion. Contextually, subjects will also be suggested to do regular physical exercises. Before the experiment begins, the body weights of all the subjects will be recorded. After the experiment ends in three months, the body weights of the subjects will be recorded once again. Next, these data will be compared to find out whether there has been any increase or decrease in individual body weights. Where and how the subjects are recruited The subjects can be recruited from the general population. However, there are certain criteria for ascertaining the focus group. These criteria are: People who are considerably obese must be short listed. People who are willing to loose weight must be selected. Those selected should be informed about hypnosis and the experiment which will be conducted on them Only the consenting persons will be allowed to participate in the experiment. For instance, we can approach the students studying in a college campus. Those who are overweight can be asked to participate in the experiment. After that, they can be informed about hypnosis, its perceived effects, and the ethical concerns. Those who agree can be inducted in the experiment which will run for at least three months. Since normal body weight varies considerably between genders and ages, adult male candidates or adult female candidates must be selected as subjects of the experiment. At least 10 to 15 participants will be necessary to gather enough statistical data and record the noticeable changes. Results Anticipated findings Figure – 1 In the above figure, anticipated findings of the experiment are shown. We anticipate that since hypnosis cannot work well without CBT in effective weight management (referencing to previous researches), absence of CBT will play a major role. The data presented in Figure – 1 shows loss of weight recorded for each subject after three months (loss of weight is recorded in kilograms). Positive values represent weight lost, while negative values represent weight gained. Although hypnosis cannot work well without CBT, it is anticipated that it will help in mitigating the risks of gaining weight. At least around 20% of the subjects are expected to show weight loss. Are the independent variables likely to affect the dependent variables? In this experiment, the independent variables are the following: 1. Time of receiving hypnosis (which will be controlled to be equal for every subject) 2. Number of sessions (which will be controlled at 1 or 2 everyday) 3. Age group (this variable has a value more than 20 but less than 30) There is only one dependent variable. That is the loss or gain of bodyweight registered for each and every subject. Discussion Summary of the expected findings Since hypnosis alone cannot bring much difference to the patients having obesity, the expected results may not appear to be optimistic enough. Although the hypothesis is aimed at proving the efficacy of hypnosis (in absence of CBT), we cannot expect that it will be established fully or unquestionably with the help of the experiment discussed insofar. Yet, we can expect that the experiment will play a seminal role in finding out what hypnosis can alone do to obesity. It is not anticipated that implications developed by researchers like Allison et al (2001) will face any serious challenge by the findings of this experiment. Allison et al (2001) have critically focused on the limited role of hypnosis alone in body weight reduction programs. But more recent results derived by Montgomery et al (2013) help in developing a more optimistic picture. But in this study conducted by Montgomery et al (2013), there is less use of primary data and more reference to previous research. Was the hypothesis supported? We can expect that the hypothesis would only be partially supported. The hypothesis would be fully supported if more than at least 50% of the subjects would show weight loss. However, even without CBT and comprehensive dietary controls (with the help of continuous monitoring and caution), we still expect that the hypothesis will at least be partially supported. Hypnosis alone may not be highly effective in obesity control. But it is anticipated to be helpful in controlling obesity at lest to some extent even when CBT is not being implemented alongside. References Allison, D.B., Fontaine, K.R., Heshka, S., Mentore, J.L. & Heymsfield, S.B. (2001). Alternative treatments for weight loss: A critical review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 41: 1-28 Kirsch, I. (1996). Hypnotic enhancement of cognitive-behavioral weight loss treatments: Another meta-reanalysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 64: 517-519 Montgomery, G. H., Schnur, J. B., & Kravits, K. (2013). Hypnosis for cancer care: Over 200 years young. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 63: 31-44. Read More