Obesity has become such a real issue in America with 34% of the population overweight that any solution should be considered. Weight loss hypnosis is one method that doesn't involve drugs, and using hypnosis for weight loss has been shown to work for many people. While hypnosis has often been considered more of a form of entertainment in the past, now it is becoming more common and acceptable as a tool for helping with the adoption of healthier habits or even controlling pain.

As with any health care issue, take caution if you plan to pursue weight loss hypnosis because even the most legitimate of appearances in programs can be covering poor research or out and out fictitious claims. Hypnosis can be most effective when pursuing a comprehensive program of diet, exercise, and behavior modification.

In order to understand its role in weight control, it helps to understand what hypnosis really is in the first place. Although hypnosis has been in widespread use since 1770 by Franz Mesmer, and likely goes back much further than that, weight loss hypnosis is a relatively new practice. It is likely that the magnetic healing and "sleep healing" performed by Paracelsus worked mainly though hypnotic suggestion, rather than through incantations, chants, or the action of waving stones over the body, which would induce hypnotic trances in the subject.

The trance state, a suggestible state somewhere between sleep and full awareness, was originally called a mesmeric trance (after Mesmer) or animal magnetism. Not until 1843 did Scottish surgeon James Braid call this state hypnotism, the name it is most often called today. Braid used pocket watches and other shiny objects to induce such trances. The AMA had affirmed that hypnosis was useful for several applications by 1958.

When used for weight control, hypnosis is usually directed at reinforcing the patient's desire to lose weight and be healthy, to actively suppress appetite, and to focus on success. Sometimes negative associations are given to dangerous fattening foods that may be a weakness for some patients. Like any successful weight reduction, weight loss hypnosis also much include a lower calorie diet and an exercise regime. However, by increasing compliance with these, hypnosis can significantly increase the chances of actually making a weight loss goal and keeping excess weight off.

The hypnotist who promises magical weight loss and a permanent fix in one session is a scam, and should be avoided. Certified and trained hypnotherapist agree that recurring treatments and support are required for actual success. Another shady method of hypnosis is the numerous videos and downloads that say you can hypnotize yourself. Read non-biased reviews before choosing, and discuss hypnosis with your doctor before starting it.