How does Psychotherapy help maintain Weight Loss?
Some weight loss programs focus on weight reduction and ignore the special risks patients face after they start to lose weight. Psychotherapy addresses some of the underlying issues that get in the way of maintaining weight loss. These include unrealistic expectations in regard to weight loss and appearance. A patient may start a weight-loss program with the idea of losing 20 percent of her weight, expecting to attain an ideal weight. If she loses only 10 percent of her weight, she may feel discouraged and give up, a risk faced by many who start to lose weight. Psychotherapy can help her see the value of what she has achieved and help her take pride in improving her health. Research shows that patients in psychotherapy who focus on self-acceptance, on keeping weight gain to a minimum, and on implementing lifestyle changes, have a much better chance of success in maintaining weight loss. Many weight loss programs now recognize the importance of providing extra support while patients are
