 |
| CREDIT: Dreamstime |
Sure,
portion size and exercise are important factors for losing weight, but
psychologists say emotions often pose some of the biggest challenges for those
trying to shed pounds.
A
survey of 1,328 licensed psychologists conducted by Consumer Reports National
Research Center found that 44 percent said "understanding and managing the
behaviors and emotions related to weight management" was essential for
addressing weight loss with their clients. Forty-three percent cited
"emotional eating" as a barrier to weight loss — just as many said
"maintaining a regular exercise schedule" was key for shedding
pounds.
Of
all the psychologists surveyed, 306 said they specifically provided weight loss
treatment for their clients. Among those, 92 percent said they help
"address underlying emotional issues related to weight gain." Over 70
percent said cognitive therapy, problem-solving and mindfulness — which can
help people get a handle on thinking patterns that can lead to unhealthy
behaviors — were "excellent" or "good" weight loss
strategies.
"Anyone
who has ever tried to lose a few pounds and keep them off knows that doing so
isn't easy," Norman B. Anderson, CEO of the American Psychological
Association, said in a statement. "Although it is generally accepted that
weight problems are most often caused by a combination of biological,
emotional, behavioral and environmental issues, these new results show the key
role of stress and emotional regulation in losing weight. Therefore, the best
weight loss tactics should integrate strategies to address emotion and behavior
as well as lifestyle approaches to exercise and making healthy eating
choices."
The
survey results will appear in the February 2013 issue of Consumer Reports
Magazine. Survey
participants were randomly selected from the American Psychological
Association’s membership file. The margin of error was 3 percentage points.
Source: Live Science
No comments:
Post a Comment