Weight Loss Consulting
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does psychology fit in to weight management?
It is generally considered, within the scientific community, that weight loss is 50% physiological, which is why we encouraged clients to seek expertise from allied health professionals such as dietitians, exercise physiologists and accredited fitness trainers, under the case management of their GP. Because it is acknowledged that the remainder of the weight loss equation is psychological, Medicare and the major private health insurers generally offer rebates for psychological treatment as part of a weight management program.
What's different about Performance Psychology?
Performance Psychology is committed to providing clients with leading edge interventions grounded in scientific research. While many fad diets or weight loss programs are capable of delivering good short-term results, the evidence shows clearly that they are inevitably followed by rebound weight gain because they are not sustainable (and often unhealthy) in the long term. Our aim is to assist clients to return to healthy habits for a lifetime, by starting the process from the inside out.
I don’t think I have a psychological problem, so how can you help me?
Occasionally, we organise for client referral to specialist clinical psychologists, where we consider that weight management issues are symptomatic of more complex psychological concerns. However, in most cases, we achieve our successes through psychological interventions which are solutions-focused, non-intrusive, and comprised of a series of manageable shifts in thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and environmental adjustments.
Do I really have to start all the hard work again?
By minimising clients’ perceived levels of self-sacrifice, disruption and discomfort, we find they typically have fewer difficulties adapting to stepwise adjustments to their physical activity and calorie consumption. We also spend a deal of time making clients “relapse-proof” against the psychological and environmental conditions that are most likely to place them at risk.
We believe our clients need to be equipped to live happy and relaxed lives in the real world of family, friends, work, and leisure. Not one where they are in a constant state of deprivation and adherence to rigorous exercise, secluded from the things that make them happy and fulfilled. Fortunately, our philosophical concept is well supported by the hard scientific evidence of what works in the specialised field of weight management.
How does it work?
Your initial sessions are generally spent analysing your history of health behaviour challenges and successes so as to design a customised program of change. Once in place, your progress is successively assessed, fine-tuned, and supported. By negotiation, your appointments are scheduled with decreasing frequency until such time as you are confident in your ability to sustain your new health habits independently and for the long term.
Do I have to sign up for a program?
No. There is no minimum sign-up or financial commitment expected on your part, though most clients find they require approximately 6 – 12 sessions to get themselves on track. Most importantly, you need to be ready to make the change by engaging in the process of exploration and accepting ultimate responsibility for behaviour change.
Where can I read more about the psychology of weight loss?
Here are a few articles to get you started:
Australian Psychological Society Media Release 12 November 2006 “Overweight Australians Can’t Go It Alone”: www.psychology.org.au/news/media_releases2006/
Australian Psychological Society Media Release18 October 2006 “Psychology the Clue to Halting the Obesity Epidemic”: www.psychology.org.au/news/media_releases2006/
Dr George Blair-West; Paper to the 10th International Congress on Obesity – Sydney 2006 “Tantalus, Restraint Theory and the Low Sacrifice “Diet” – the art of reverse abstraction.
Garry Egger, Rosemary Stanton, and David Cameron-Smith; "Alternative Treatments for Weight Loss: range, rationale and effectiveness" (Progress in Obesity Research, 2003)
Medical News Today 12 July 2007 Article: GPs Cite Lack of Patient Motivation As The Top Barrier To Weight Loss, Survey Finds: www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/76504.php
Dax Urbszat, C. Peter Herman, & Janet Polivy " Eat Drink & Be Merry for Tomorrow We Diet" (Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 2002)
National Weight Control Registry - Overview (April 2005)