Study finds that EFT reduces food cravings and weight

Aug. 22, 2012 - PRLog -- To schedule an interview with Dr. Dawson Church, contact: Jennifer Geronimo at (619) 713-6756 or jmgeronimo@aol.com

EFT FOR WEIGHT LOSS: Study finds that EFT reduces food cravings and weight

Recent research offers heartening results for those who have been trying without success to lose weight. A simple method called Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), also known as “tapping,” can reduce food cravings, clear emotional issues associated with food and weight, and help the individual shed unwanted pounds.

In a study of 96 overweight or obese people, participants received four weeks of EFT for food cravings and other weight-related issues or were waitlisted (the control group). A follow-up of the EFT participants one year after the initial 4-week study found significant improvements in weight and body mass index (BMI), as well as food cravings, the subjective power of food, craving restraint, and psychological coping. The measures used to determine cravings and other psychological factors included the Food Craving Inventory (FCI), the Power of Food Scale (POF), and the Revised Restraint Scale, which measures three aspects of eating behavior—cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating.

The fact that the results continued to be positive a full year after the four weeks of EFT demonstrates the long-term effectiveness of the method. The researchers concluded, “It appears EFT can result in participants maintaining reduced cravings over time and affect weight and BMI in overweight and obese individuals.”

EFT is a noninvasive technique that pairs the recall of emotional upsets (a form of exposure therapy, a common method in psychology) with physical stimulation of specific points on the body to discharge stress (as identified by thousands of years of use in acupuncture). The physiological mechanisms of action of EFT have been documented in a range of studies and review articles. These demonstrate that EFT affects several of the body's regulatory systems, including the brain, hormonal system, and relaxation response.

EFT is the centerpiece of the Skinny Genes Program (SkinnyGenesFit.com) developed by weight-loss coach Brittany Watkins. The program offers online guidance in using EFT to lose weight; including a “craving video” to help people learn how to tap to reduce their food cravings (see SkinnyGenesQuick.com).

Many people have posted online at the Skinny Genes site to report the good results they are having in applying EFT to their weight issues. One such report comes from Sandra, who recently started using EFT through the Skinny Genes Program: “This is amazing. Just one night of tapping, watching the videos and listening to the audio and I have made more progress than years of counseling. Thank you for sharing this wonderful series. I am looking forward to finally losing this weight and being healthy.”

Numerous firsthand accounts of using EFT for weight loss can be found at www.EFTuniverse.com.

Study citation: Peta Stapleton, PhD, Terri Sheldon, Brett Porter. “Clinical benefits of Emotional Freedom Techniques on food cravings at 12-months follow-up: A randomized controlled trial.” Energy Psychology 4:1 (May 2012).

For more information on EFT, visit the EFT research bibliography at www.EFTuniverse.com.