These researchers studied ninety-six overweight or obese adults, one half of whom were taught EFT right away, while the other half had to wait for four weeks while just doing whatever they ordinarily did to control food cravings. At the end of this time, the “wait list” group was given training in EFT too, but they had already been thoroughly studied by that time. The “wait list” group was the control (comparison) group.
What were the researchers looking for?
Before the research began, they gave the subjects a series of tests to determine the intensity of their food cravings and measure how strong an influence food exerted over them (that is, its “pull” value). The researchers also investigated the degree of f restraint these people could call upon when faced with tempting food, and the number of psychological symptoms of stress they were exhibiting. Finally, everyone in the study was initially measured to determine their BMI (Body Mass Index), an indication of the way the body stores and distributes fat — the lower the BMI, the healthier the fat deposits of the individual.
After that, and this makes the study particularly interesting, these same subjects were studied again at the end of 12 months.
What had happened?
When re-tested at the end of four weeks, those who had learned EFT showed significantly lowered food cravings compared to the wait list controls that had not learned the method. At that time, the EFT’ers also had improved significantly in the degree to which they could exercise restraint when confronted by tempting foods, and the degree to which food could exert a pulling power over them.
What is particularly interesting was that two of the measures, the intensity of food cravings and the pull of the food on them, remained significantly improved at the end of one year in those who had been practicing EFT, demonstrating the holding power of this technique. Also, the Body Mass Index (BMI) the measure of the body’s storage of fat was significantly reduced in those practicing EFT at the end of one year: a highly desirable outcome.
The results of this study show that EFT can have an immediate effect on reducing food cravings and also result in maintenance of these reduced cravings over time. In addition it shows that EFT impacts favorably on The Body Mass Index, reducing it in the desired direction. The researchers suggest that EFT may contribute to the ability of weight loss/dieting programs to assist people to achieve reduced food cravings and therefore lose weight.
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* Stapleton, Sheldon, Porter
* In Press, Behavior Change journal.
