Yo-yo dieting has become endemic in the Western world, along with the loss of self-esteem and poor health that both causes and accompanies it. Psychologists have been working with these yo-yo dieters for many years, but largely focusing on the self-esteem issues. It is only recently that these same psychologists have successfully started using CBT group therapy (cognitive behavioral therapy) sessions for roller coaster dieters in an effort to help these patients understand that weight gain, like so many other issues, is literally a case of mind over matter.
Billions of dollars are spent annually on weight-loss diets, pills, machines, gadgets and even surgery because of the pressure placed on both men and women to be slim and fit. Unfortunately, although these methods may help someone drop pounds, the loss is almost always temporary and will probably be re-gained, plus a few more, before long.
Group therapy is especially helpful with this problem for several reasons. First of all, it's always nice to know you're not the only one with your problem and it helps to spend time with sympathetic fellow sufferers. Aside from that, a group exerts positive pressure on the individual, and provides a support framework for those who need that phone number to call when they feel themselves slipping, or have lost the resolve to go it alone. A CBT group helps people succeed because the focus is identifying and addressing the underlying causes of weight gain and the real reasons for wanting to lose pounds. Too often, people eat to excess seeking stress relief, or the endorphins from chocolate for instance, that are missing on some other level.
The first thing a group member will learn is what is really at the core of his overeating and desire to lose weight. Anyone who watches television can't help but be aware of the subliminal and overt messages that thin is beautiful, overweight is not. Thin people are successful, overweight people are not; and so the message continues. For the most part, our society has been so conditioned to equate body size with success that dieters tend to believe that if they become slimmer, they will become more confident and improve their social and business lives.
Cognitive therapy can help a patient differentiate between weight-loss goals (how many pounds they want to lose) and primary goals (improving self-image and social skills). With this knowledge in hand, a patient who fails to reach her weight goal may break the yo-yo cycle that starts with dieting, followed by disappointing results, then eating for comfort, gaining the weight back and starting all over again.
Many CBT practitioners use a six point approach to weight loss that includes lifestyle changes, examining problems with the diet, discussing body image, setting reasonable weight-loss goals, recognizing primary goals and learning how to maintain a healthy weight once it has been obtained. Neither group nor one-on-one cognitive therapy can, in itself, cause weight loss, but it can help patients understand how their thought processes and poor self-image are sabotaging their weight loss efforts. The good news is that CBT has been shown to be a great tool to help people understand and change their thought patterns. This in turn should lead to sensible lifelong meal planning, rather than diets. This is the approach that not only works in the short term, but will continue working for life.
Reproduction permitted only if all active links are maintained and byline is preserved, and/or your byline is omitted. 2011 All Copyrights reserved.
Billions of dollars are spent annually on weight-loss diets, pills, machines, gadgets and even surgery because of the pressure placed on both men and women to be slim and fit. Unfortunately, although these methods may help someone drop pounds, the loss is almost always temporary and will probably be re-gained, plus a few more, before long.
Group therapy is especially helpful with this problem for several reasons. First of all, it's always nice to know you're not the only one with your problem and it helps to spend time with sympathetic fellow sufferers. Aside from that, a group exerts positive pressure on the individual, and provides a support framework for those who need that phone number to call when they feel themselves slipping, or have lost the resolve to go it alone. A CBT group helps people succeed because the focus is identifying and addressing the underlying causes of weight gain and the real reasons for wanting to lose pounds. Too often, people eat to excess seeking stress relief, or the endorphins from chocolate for instance, that are missing on some other level.
The first thing a group member will learn is what is really at the core of his overeating and desire to lose weight. Anyone who watches television can't help but be aware of the subliminal and overt messages that thin is beautiful, overweight is not. Thin people are successful, overweight people are not; and so the message continues. For the most part, our society has been so conditioned to equate body size with success that dieters tend to believe that if they become slimmer, they will become more confident and improve their social and business lives.
Cognitive therapy can help a patient differentiate between weight-loss goals (how many pounds they want to lose) and primary goals (improving self-image and social skills). With this knowledge in hand, a patient who fails to reach her weight goal may break the yo-yo cycle that starts with dieting, followed by disappointing results, then eating for comfort, gaining the weight back and starting all over again.
Many CBT practitioners use a six point approach to weight loss that includes lifestyle changes, examining problems with the diet, discussing body image, setting reasonable weight-loss goals, recognizing primary goals and learning how to maintain a healthy weight once it has been obtained. Neither group nor one-on-one cognitive therapy can, in itself, cause weight loss, but it can help patients understand how their thought processes and poor self-image are sabotaging their weight loss efforts. The good news is that CBT has been shown to be a great tool to help people understand and change their thought patterns. This in turn should lead to sensible lifelong meal planning, rather than diets. This is the approach that not only works in the short term, but will continue working for life.
Reproduction permitted only if all active links are maintained and byline is preserved, and/or your byline is omitted. 2011 All Copyrights reserved.
About the Author:
If you or someone you know is on a roller coaster diet plan, and is possibly also exhibiting symptoms of self destructive behavior, author Stephen Daniels highly recommends the expertise of NYC CBT as well as group CBT for weight loss.
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