Gastric Bypass Hypnosis for Weight Management
CNN
Julie Evans’ turning point came during a 2006 trip to Hawaii, when she realized her weight was limiting her ability to fully participate in activities she loved. As she later recalled, “It was at that moment that I realized that my weight was preventing me from living.”
After two pregnancies, depression, and long stretches of parenting alone while her husband traveled for work, Evans’ weight climbed to 287 pounds. She described feeling isolated, saying, “I was at home with two kids under the age of 2… I felt alone.”
Her mother’s success with “hypnosis gastric bypass” led Evans to certified hypnotist Rena Greenberg in 2007. Greenberg’s method simulates gastric bypass surgery through guided hypnosis, aiming to convince the subconscious mind that the stomach is smaller and appetite reduced. According to Greenberg, “It’s about changing the way you think about food subconsciously.”
Research on hypnosis for weight loss is limited, but a 1996 meta‑analysis by Irving Kirsch found that participants using hypnosis lost an average of 15 pounds, compared to 6 pounds in control groups, with longer treatment linked to better outcomes.
Evans reported immediate changes after her first session, including cravings for healthier foods and a dramatic reduction in appetite. She said, “I physically couldn’t eat as much as I had been, and I only wanted really healthy things.”
Over two years, Evans lost nearly half her body weight, reaching 150 pounds and maintaining a size 6 for more than three years. While experts acknowledge hypnosis can help some individuals, bariatric surgeon Dr. Ann M. Rogers notes that real gastric bypass surgery also triggers metabolic and hormonal changes—such as reduced ghrelin levels—that support long‑term weight loss.
Evans continues to use hypnosis recordings “as needed,” pairing them with consistent exercise and healthy eating. Her husband says her transformation has positively influenced their family, adding that she has shown their children “that it is possible to overcome obstacles, regardless of how imposing they might seem.”
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