Acupuncture For Weight Loss
and Behaviour Modification

Acupuncture can be very helpful for Behaviour Modification in the overweight.

The psychological and self-image aspects are involved. The bikini clad beauty on television constantly reminds us that we are overweight. This influence is often inappropriate and dangerous. Some of us who are not really overweight could suddenly start to believe that we have a weight problem. This of course could develop into an obsession and could eventually lead to illness such as Anorexia Nervosa or malnutrition. In Chinese Medicine, the obsession could complicate into pathologies of the Earth organs (stomach and spleen systems) that could further add to the detriment of the individual.

Permanent weight loss can only be achieved by a commitment to a total change in lifestyle. Excess weight is the result of more than just poor food choices. Clearly a behavioural modification approach that encourages self monitoring and stimulus control are necessary. Social support is also important.

Social Support

Social support is required. The overweight person need to be taught how to evaluate his or her social environment and how to determine whether anyone in the environment could aid or prevent their efforts. The family for example could represent a source of stress and intimidation rather than a source of strength and intimacy. Often self help groups offer much needed peer support.

Stimulus Control

There are many underlying reasons that cause an increase in body weight. Behavioural tendencies play a major part. People respond to stress, to changes in life and to feeling of deprivation quite often by over-eating. In these circumstances, food is not only used as a form of nourishment, but it is used to comfort and distract us from situations that are uncomfortable. It is just a way of dealing with these problems.

Overeating can be triggered by a whole series of emotions, such as depression, anger, boredom, loneliness, fear, guilt, sadness and grief. This is the area where acupuncture helps a lot. These can develop into obsessive or compulsive eating habits. These habits may have been formed unconsciously of course. We need to realise the connection between these feelings and overeating.

Feeling negative towards ourself and if our self-image is low, self-esteem would also be low; therefore we resort to over-eating. It serves to fill this psychological gap. If we are overweight and have low self-esteem, it is unlikely that we will engage in activities that could reverse this feeling, such as, try on or buy new clothes. This would make us feel worse. Eating is the way out as it takes care of our bad feelings and restores our confidence.

Self Monitoring

Behavioural changes as a lifestyle is necessary and important. A completely different pattern of eating need to be re-established regardless of how much weight you have to lose; you need to live life as a slim healthy person. You also need to be patient and be very aware of these changes in lifestyle.

Documentation in form of a record is beneficial, not only when we actually eat but how we felt at that time. This unconscious act serve to distract us from the real situation.

Will power, of course is necessary. I always include acupuncture points to help increase will power or loss of self control.

Behavioural Principles

Here are some basic principles from Frankle and Yang (1988) that will help in your acupuncture treatment for weight loss.

On Self Monitoring:

Keep a diet diary that includes:

- Time and place of eating

- Time and amount of food

- Who is present/How you feel

On Stimulus control:

Shopping:

- Shop after eating

- Shop from a list

- Avoid ready-to-use foods

- Don’t carry more cash than needed

Plans:

- Plan to limit intake

- Substitute exercise from snacking

- Eat meals and snacks at schedule times

- Don’t accept food offered by others

Activities:

- Store food out of sight

- Eat all food in the same place

- Remove food from inappropriate storage areas in the house

- Keep serving dishes off the table

- Use smaller dishes and utensils

- Avoid being the food server

- Leave the table immediately after eating

- Don’t save leftovers (so do not over-cook)

Holidays and Parties:

- Drink fewer alcoholic beverages

- Plan eating habits before parties

- Eat a low calorie snack before parties

- Practice polite ways to decline food

- Don’t get disadvantaged by an occasional set back

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