Obesity has been steadily rising in the UK over the past few decades which is a concern due to the association with various health conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
While stress is a normal pat of life, chronic stress and anxiety can have a negative impact on our health and wellbeing. When we are stressed, our body releases the hormone cortisol which is also known as the “stress hormone” because it helps your body to respond to stressful situations. However, too much cortisol can have negative consequences, including weight gain.
Cortisol increases your appetite and makes you crave sugary and fatty foods. It also slows down your metabolism, which makes it harder to burn calories. As a result, people who are stressed are more likely to overeat and gain weight.
Other factors that could lead to weight gain include:
Inadequate sleep: Chronic stress often leads to poor sleep quality or lack of sleep, which in turn can increase cravings for unhealthy foods. Lack of sleep can also alter the hormones that control hunger and fullness, leading to increased appetite and potential weight gain.
Emotional eating: Many people turn to food for comfort when they’re stressed, which can lead to overeating. Unfortunately, the foods people tend to reach for when stressed are often high in sugar, fat, and calories.
Decreased physical activity: Stress can decrease motivation or energy levels to stay active or exercise regularly. Physical inactivity contributes to weight gain and difficulties in weight loss.
Lifestyle factors: Stress often leads to other unhealthy behaviours such as increased alcohol consumption or smoking, which can contribute to weight gain and difficulty losing weight.
Lack of time: High-stress lifestyles often mean less time to plan and prepare healthy meals or to exercise, leading to reliance on processed foods or fast foods that are high in calories and low in nutritional value.
Hypnotherapy is a powerful tool that can help transform your relationship with food, your body, and your self-image. It delves deeper by addressing the subconscious triggers that often lead to unhealthy eating patterns. The benefits of Hypnotherapy for weight Loss and weight management include:
Subconscious Change: Hypnotherapy targets the subconscious mind, where our habits, impulses, and emotions live. It helps replace negative thought patterns with positive ones.
Sustainable Weight Loss: Hypnotherapy is not about quick fixes or restrictive diets, it’s about lasting change and creating a healthier lifestyle.
Increased Self-Control: Hypnotherapy can help increase your self-control, enabling you to resist unhealthy food and make better choices.
Improved Self-Esteem: By addressing body image and self-worth, hypnotherapy can help you feel more confident and comfortable in your own skin.
Stress Management: Emotional eating often has its roots in stress. Hypnotherapy can equip you with better stress management tools to prevent overeating.
Hypnosis can be a powerful tool, however, it is important to remember that hypnotherapy is not a magic solution. Success requires commitment to change from the individual, and it works best as part of a comprehensive approach to weight loss, which includes a balanced diet and regular physical activity.