In our work with dieters, we have found that many (if not most) rely very heavily on the scale going down as an external reward for their hard work. They believe that if they were perfect, or close to perfect, on their diets, the scale should go down, if not every day, then certainly every week. This is problematic because the scale simply doesn’t work that way.
Category: Obesity
How Cognitive Therapists Can Contribute to Patient Well-Being
CBT for Medical Conditions By Francine Broder, PsyD Patient adherence to treatment for type 2 diabetes, obesity, and other chronic health problems is a great source of concern for physicians. Physicians often look to mental and behavioral health professionals to help care for their patients with chronic illnesses, while grappling with how to increase adherence to treatment. What are the possible obstacles patients face? The complexity of treatment can influence adherence.There may…
Conflicting Research on Dieting
Conflicting Research on Dieting By Deborah Beck Busis, LCSW Director, Beck Diet Programs A recent article published in the New York Times, “After ‘The Biggest Loser,’ Their Bodies Fought to Regain Weight,” details how most of the contestants on the television show, “The Biggest Loser,” regained much, if not all of the weight they had lost while on the show. The article also describes how the contestants’ metabolisms slowed down as…
CBT is Effective for Childhood Obesity
According to a recent study published in Quality of Life Research, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) can be effective in reducing obesity and increasing health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children. The current study, based in the Netherlands, sought to assess the effects of a family-based multidisciplinary CBT, aimed at reducing Body Mass Index (BMI) and improving quality of life in obese children in comparison to standard care. Those who participated…