Can you think your way thin?
How cognitive behavioural therapy can help you achieve your weight-loss goals
By Lesley Young
The obstacles to weight-losscould be all in your head. According to a
new school of thought in weight management,cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help us examine oureating patterns and the thoughts associated with food to change unhealthy behaviour—and help us lose unwanted weight.
CBT is a technique that dissects how our thoughts and perceptions (that’s the cognition) affect our actions (and that’s the behaviour). It has shown success in treating conditions such as depression, anxiety and addiction. And now the treatment is being applied to help modify eating behaviours.
“Diets don’t work, because you can’t stay on them forever,” explains Dr. Valerie Taylor, director of the Canadian Obesity Network’s mental health program. “You need to learn alternative strategies to cope with the [craving] triggers in the first place. CBT gives people the ability to analyze their behaviours and question their perspectives. It really challenges people to identify their emotional and interpersonal triggers around food.” For example, once you identify a negative thought (such as “Showing emotions means I’m weak”), you can develop and practise a countering thought (“It takes a lot of personal strength to face emotions head-on”). “And it works,” says Taylor.
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