04 Jan

EFT Research Into Online Delivery of Emotional Freedom Technique in the Treatment of Cravings and Weight Management

Earlier research has found EFT to be a useful technique for the treatment of food cravings and weight management. Following on from these studies, the Online Delivery of Emotional Freedom Technique in the Treatment of Cravings and Weight Management looked at whether EFT was effective when delivered an e-intervention (web-based).
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EFT is a useful technique for helping people with weight and craving issues

People often ask me if there is scientific research backing up the effectiveness of EFT. There is extensive research that has been conducted on EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) since it’s development in the 1990s. Research has focused on topics as diverse as PTSD, pain to food, and weight issues.

Peta Stapleton is a leading researcher in the field, especially in the area of weight management and food cravings. Previous research by her team at Bond University in Australia has found that EFT is a useful technique for helping people with weight and craving issues. The study below focuses on delivery methods.

Therapy has traditionally been conducted face to face in an office. Since the development of the internet, a growing number of therapists work online using web-based services such as Zoom and Skype. Using the web has resulted in greater accessibility of therapy worldwide. Many EFT therapists also do group online sessions. The internet has also opened up the delivery of treatment via pre-recorded sessions, online courses, etc. The question this research was looking to answer was if online delivery, also called e-interventions of EFT, was effective in the treatment of cravings and weight issues.

The Scale of the Problem

In 2016, the WHO, the World Health Organisation estimated that 1.9 billion adults aged 18 and over were overweight. Since 1975 obesity has tripled. It is anticipated by the year 2030 that Obesity will affect 57.8% of the global population. Being overweight can severely impact health, even leading to death. Carrying excess weight is implicated in many serious health issues, including some cancers, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Many of the current methods used with weight management, which focus on diet, exercise, and medication, are highly ineffective. Between 80-97% (dependent on where you read it) (1) of people who lose weight over time will regain it. Most programs for weight loss do not target the emotional aspects.

EFT Research

Earlier research has found EFT to be a useful technique for the treatment of food cravings and weight management. Following on from these studies, the Online Delivery of Emotional Freedom Technique in the Treatment of Cravings and Weight Management looked at whether EFT was effective when delivered an e-intervention (web-based). It was a Randomised Control Trial (RCT). RCT studies are considered the gold standard of research studies as they eliminate any bias that researchers may have as regards to the outcome. RCT’s are used in drug research.

Most of the research subjects were women in the age range of 41-60. Over half of these volunteers had a BMI (Body Mass Index) that fell in the obese range. The research took place over eight weeks with follow-ups at six and twelve months. They used seven outcome measures to evaluate the results of the e-intervention; these were anxiety and depression, food cravings, ability to stick to a diet, etc. Anxiety and depression often occur alongside weight issues.

The results of the EFT group at completion found that anxiety and depression levels were significantly lower immediately after the end of the e-intervention. Weight loss was also significantly higher: food cravings were less. The group maintained this improvement at the twelve-month mark.

The researchers concluded from their results that EFT was a useful tool that could be used online for supporting weight and craving management.

This research is published in the open-access journal, OMB Integrative, and Complementary Medicine (ISSN 2573 4393). OMB Integrative and Complementary Medicine is a peer reviewed international journal which covers evidence-based scientific studies on complementary and alternative health approaches.

References

  1. https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20161014/how-your-appetite-can-sabotage-weight-loss
  2. https://www.lidsen.com/journals/icm/icm-04-04-065

Further Reading

1. Article about why calorie deprivation ultimately results in weight gain.

https://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/2018/05/calorie-deprivation

2. Photo by Natasha Spencer from Pexels

My passion is with helping people achieve the things they want to achieve in life; whether that is becoming a therapist or building the self-confidence and skills to excel in public speaking. I offer a number of EFT Courses. Click to View My Courses >
I have developed my therapeutic techniques one of which is Mindfulness Based Inner RePatterning™. This is a powerful, simple transformational technique based on mindfulness and tapping therapies. Click to View This Course Syllabus >
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