Changing Eating Behaviors of Healthy Adults Through Hypnosis

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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There is a lot of research on weight loss. In spite of the research on the subject, obesity is a growing disease all through the world. The results of recent reviews and meta-analyzes show that psychological interventions had small effect on weight loss. The investigators propose a different approach to changing eating behaviors with relevance to weight management and hypothesize that participants in the active interventions will significantly improve their eating behaviors than the ones in the control group. The results will improve the psychological interventions for weight loss.

Detailed Description
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This is a randomized clinical trial consisting of four groups. According to the concept of Free Will, the decision of action is taken before being acknowledged and is made following the reconstruction of previous experiences. It can be inhibited immediately (max 100ms) after awareness. The investigators want to intervene based on this model using hypnotic suggestions to change eating behaviors. Participants were found through social media announcements. Three groups receive one session of hypnosis with induction and different suggestions and the control group receives only induction. The eating behavior is measured through computer tasks in which participants have the option to choose pictures of food. The task is performed before, during and after hypnosis and the measurements of eating behavior are taken at all three times.

Official Title
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Eating Behavior - Choice or Reconstruction of Past Experience? Changing Eating Behaviors of Healthy Adults Through Hypnotic Suggestions

Conditions
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Overweight, Obesity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Hypnosis with amnesia suggestions
* Behavioral: Hypnosis with cognitive rehearsal suggestions
* Behavioral: Hypnosis with memory substitution suggestions
* Behavioral: Hypnosis with induction only


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Both gender Healthy Adults who want to change their eating behavior Exclusion Criteria: Severe mental illness <18 years A diagnosed eating disorder

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Participants were randomized in one of the four groups.
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Amnesia<br>Hypnosis formed from hypnotic induction (an adapted version from Barber Suggestibility Scale) together with hypnotic suggestions to experience amnesia for the food pictures they had just seen. | Behavioral: Hypnosis with amnesia suggestions<br>* Participants received hypnotic induction with hypnotic suggestions for their eating behaviors.<br>|
| Experimental: Cognitive Rehearsal<br>Hypnosis formed from hypnotic induction (an adapted version from Barber Suggestibility Scale) together with hypnotic suggestions about a future where they will control their eating behaviors. | Behavioral: Hypnosis with cognitive rehearsal suggestions<br>* Participants received hypnotic induction with hypnotic suggestions for their eating behaviors.<br>|
| Experimental: Memory Substitution<br>Hypnosis formed from hypnotic induction (an adapted version from Barber Suggestibility Scale) together with hypnotic suggestions about a past where they have always controlled their eating behaviors. | Behavioral: Hypnosis with memory substitution suggestions<br>* Participants received hypnotic induction with hypnotic suggestions for their eating behaviors.<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Control<br>Hypnosis formed from only hypnotic induction (an adapted version from Barber Suggestibility Scale). | Behavioral: Hypnosis with induction only<br>* Participants received only hypnotic induction.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Eating Behavior | The number of food pictures chosen by the participant in this single session intervention. The outcome is a measure assessing a change between three time points. | The intervention is delivered in one session. The outcome is measured: immediately pre intervention (0-2 min), during intervention and immediately post intervention (0-2 min). | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Obesity, Overweight, Weight loss, Hypnosis, Eating Behavior, Free Will