Adv Mind Body Med. 2022;36(1):13-21.
With obesity a mounting global issue, efficacious treatments can make a contribution to both personal and public health. Prior clinical trials have demonstrated that an evidence-based method, Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), can produce a durable weight reduction.
The study evaluated whether Skinny Genes, a six-week online program applying EFT to emotional eating, was associated with behavioral change and reductions in weight.
A pre-post outcome study design evaluated the results of a convenience sample of participants enrolled in an online weight loss course.
Participant were recruited through EFT websites. Pre, post and follow-up measures were available for 72 participants and all analysis was performed on this sample.
Participants used EFT to address cognitions, behaviors, and adverse experiences that could contribute to binge eating, intermittent dieting, and resistance to exercise.
Behaviors to restrain eating were measured using the Revised Restraint Scale (RRS); the association of food with reward using the Power of Food Scale (PFS); anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Weight was measured pre and postintervention and at six-month follow-up.
Postintervention, a 36.8% reduction in anxiety (P < .001) and a 48.5% reduction in depression (P < .001) were found. The perceived power of food decreased significantly as did restraint behaviors. Participants lost an average of 12.9 lbs during the six weeks of the program (P < .001), and at follow-up, a further 2.6 lbs. All psychological gains were maintained (P < .001).
The findings are consistent with those of other clinical trials studying the benefits of EFT for weight loss, demonstrating simultaneous reductions in both weight and psychological distress. The continued weight reduction found on follow-up was consistent with other EFT studies but counter to the pattern of weight regain noted in the literature. Addressing emotional issues using an online delivery format was associated with durable weight-loss maintenance as well as improved mental health. App-based and virtual programs such as Skinny Genes have the potential to bring effective therapies to underserved populations.
肥胖是一个日益严重的全球性问题，有效的治疗方法可以为个人和公共健康做出贡献。先前的临床试验已经证明，一种基于证据的方法，即临床情绪自由技术（EFT），可以产生持久的体重减轻。
本研究评估了为期六周的在线计划 Skinny Genes 是否通过应用 EFT 来治疗情绪化进食，是否与行为改变和体重减轻有关。
采用前后测结果研究设计，评估了参加在线减肥课程的方便样本参与者的结果。
通过 EFT 网站招募参与者。为 72 名参与者提供了预、后和随访测量，所有分析均基于该样本进行。
参与者使用 EFT 来解决可能导致暴饮暴食、间歇性节食和抵制运动的认知、行为和不良体验。
干预后，焦虑减少了 36.8%（P<.001），抑郁减少了 48.5%（P<.001）。对食物的感知能力显著下降，同时限制进食的行为也减少了。参与者在六周的课程中平均减轻了 12.9 磅（P<.001），在随访时又减轻了 2.6 磅。所有心理上的收益都保持不变（P<.001）。
这些发现与其他研究 EFT 对减肥益处的临床试验一致，表明体重和心理困扰同时减轻。在随访中发现的持续减重与其他 EFT 研究一致，但与文献中注意到的体重反弹模式相反。使用在线交付模式解决情绪问题与持久的体重维持以及改善心理健康有关。基于应用程序和虚拟程序（如 Skinny Genes）有可能将有效的治疗方法带给服务不足的人群。
