Assessment of the outcomes of an intervention combining cognitive behavioral therapy techniques and hypnosis for the therapy of obesity.

Background. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a first-line intervention in the psychological treatment of obesity and eating disorders. Hypnosis, on the other hand, has the potential to enhance the effects of CBT, but this combination has not been sufficiently explored in previous studies. Aims. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of a CBT intervention combined with hypnosis in reducing BMI (Body Mass Index) and improving some psychological factors associated with obesity. Methods. The intervention was applied to a group of 50 overweight or presenting various degrees of obesity (BMI>26) people and consisted of 12 sessions conducted online. The intervention group was evaluated before the intervention, after the intervention and at 6 months. The DASS-21R, TFEQ (Three Factor Eating Questionnaire) and EDI-3 low self-esteem scale were used. Results. The results of the study showed that the outcome of the intervention was a reduction in BMI, uncontrolled eating, depression and low self-esteem. There were also decreases in emotional eating, stress and anxiety, which were close to the statistical significance threshold. Conclusion. The present study thus supports the effectiveness of the applied intervention, combining CBT with hypnosis, in improving BMI and partly associated psychological factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]