From being a previously little used word, obesity is now a word we hear almost every day. Barely a day goes by without the topic appearing in the national news. Not only is it common place in news articles and stories, it is the subject of much research and many surveys.
The NHS definition of obesity is ‘a term used to describe somebody who is very overweight with a high degree of body fat’. It’s a problem that affects both children and adults.
The 2011 Scottish Health Survey results showed that obesity “has increased significantly since 1995”. It showed obesity is a major problem for many people in Scotland, with a growing number of children being classed as overweight.
There was also an article in the BBC news magazine in September, on child obesity, asking the question ‘why do parents let their children get fat?’ Of course, nobody is suggesting parents are to blame, as there are many factors that contribute to the problem. Some of which include; more sedentary lives, bad eating habits, a lack of education about food, a lack of exercise and even not realising there is a weight problem to begin with.
Obesity is also a global problem….Researchers in America, where there is a huge level of obesity, suggest they have strong evidence that sugary drinks play a leading role combined with high calorie fast food and a sedentary lifestyle.
Here in the UK, just over 33% of 11-year-olds are now overweight or obese and 22% of four and five-year-olds, according to the most recent figures from the National Child Measurement Programme, which assesses the height and weight of primary children in England. Similar figures were found in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. As in America, a sedentary life style and staying indoors watching television compounds the problem.
Adults experience similar problems. Things like eating to excess, using the car instead of walking, spending the day doing inactive work, not exercising or playing sport all contribute to weight gain.
So, does it matter if we gain weight? Well, the simple answer to that is yes, a large number of medical conditions have been associated with excessive weight gain. These can include osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes, some forms of cancer and cardiovascular disease.
It would seem prudent then to ensure a correct body weight. But how can we achieve this?
The statistics and research show that most diets simply do not work for long-term weight loss. There is no ‘magic pill’. The undeniable truth is that the secret to maintaining a healthy weight for life is by keeping a balance between what you eat and how much you exercise. But that is often more difficult than it sounds.
This is where the techniques of Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy can help in the weight management journey. These techniques can help with:
• Understanding the role of negative beliefs about succeeding in losing weight
• How to harness motivation to exercise
• How to recognize the triggers to emotional eating
• How to develop effective strategies to deal with emotional eating
• The effect of the mind-body connection and how it impacts on body image
• Development of a personal health plan
If you would like more information on how Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy can help to support you and your clients through the weight -loss journey, we would invite you to attend our one day Master Class on Weight Management in January 2013. Or you can ask us any questions here….
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