Headwork For Health The Missing Piece of the Obesity Epidemic Introduction Understanding the Missing Piece Who am I Bariatric behaviorist Owner of counseling practice Professional speaker & trainer The Head work piece of treating obesity and other health conditions What So what Now what Lora Grabow, LMSW 1
The Obesity Epidemic : The Lancet Study 2016 The Role of the Health Profession 1 in 5 people will be obese by 2025 In 4 decades, global obesity has more than tripled among men and doubled among women Over the past 40 years, we have changed from a world in which underweight prevalence was more than double that of obesity, to one in which more people are obese than underweight Medical Doctors /PA s/np s Surgeons Registered Dieticians Exercise Physiologists Headwork for Health What is Missing? For patients battling obesity, most current solutions focus on medical treatment, diet modifications and exercise all but ignoring mental and emotional aspects of well-being and weight loss I am an expert at losing weight. I am just not an expert at keeping it off Is losing weight just the HOW? Baseball analogy The bat= the headwork tools Moving beyond the HOW to the WHY Lora Grabow, LMSW 2
Obesity is a Disease Complex Disease The American Medical Association has officially recognized obesity as a disease, a move that could induce physicians to pay more attention to the condition and spur more insurers to pay for treatments ( June 2013) Physiological Component Psychological Component Environmental Component Physiological Environmental Genetics Metabolic disorders ( hormonal) The brain & environment Food choice and availability Role of the food industry Food portions Activity level Sleep function Lora Grabow, LMSW 3
Psychological The Missing Piece: Headwork Tools Strong psychological relationship with food Emotional eating patterns Binge eating disorder Food addiction Obesity stigma Taking our patient beyond the HOW to the Why According to the survey of more than 1300 licensed psychologists, concluded by the Consumer National Research Center. Understanding and managing the behaviors and emotions related to weight management is essential to weight loss -Psychology Central 2013 Behavior Change Every behavior is driven by a THOUGHT and an EMOTION What role does food play? Friend Comfort Celebration Conflict Avoider Rebellion Unconditional Acceptance Self-care Soother Relaxation Reward Control Symptom of Addiction Symptom of Binge Eating Disorder Lora Grabow, LMSW 4
Emotional Eating Physical Hunger and Emotional Hunger Emotional eating definition Experts estimate that 75% of overeating is triggered by our emotions, not physical hunger Emotional Eating if the #1 reason people will gain weight or regain lost weight Physical Hunger Occurs several hours after a meal Physical Symptoms *stomach growling *headache *light-headedness Eat and you are satisfied Emotional Hunger Occurs at random times Symptoms connected to our senses I have a TASTE for that That LOOKS good That SOUNDS good That SMELLS good Hunger persists despite eating Hunger, Desire and Craving Eating to Soothe Hunger: physical and several hours after a meal Desire: not particularly hungry but you eat because its there (grazing) Craving: physiological and psychological intense urge to eat The brain chemistry The chocolate experience Obese vs. non-obese Lora Grabow, LMSW 5
Lack of Self-Soothing Skills Eating Disorders Developmental history Paradigm of escape vs. coping through What I see in my practice Binge Eating Disorder Food Addiction The Power of Thoughts Now What: Practical Interventions I don t care Its ok to eat this Its not fair I really want it It ll go to waste if I don t eat it I ve already blown it so I might as well blow it big I am stressed, I have to eat Cognitive therapy Problem-solving Mindfulness Motivational Strategies Keeping behavioral records Goal-Setting Lora Grabow, LMSW 6
Cognitive Therapy Basics Which Muscle Intervention Trigger Thought The giving-in muscle The resistance muscle Action The Advantage Response Card Giving Credit A tool to increase motivation What it looks like How to use Key point: do more than simply read the words. Every time you read an advantage think to Yousef how important is this to you? Visualize the advantage Starting your patient visit with credit The credit journal Lora Grabow, LMSW 7
The Power of Words Distraction Box Cheating vs. off plan eating Creating a sense of empowerment instead of shame A tool to help cope through emotional eating urges What it can look like Using my distraction box has been a great help in me keeping my mind off the cravings I have in the evening. The items contained in there focus my thoughts away from the emotional cravings and want to eat -Jason Mindfulness Support Allowing thoughts and emotions to come and go without judging them, and instead concentrate on being aware of the moment Calming breath Progressive muscle relaxation Guided imagery Support groups Educational groups Patient mentor program Obesity Action Coalition Social Media Outside Counseling Resources Lora Grabow, LMSW 8
Suggested Books The Diet Trap Solution by Dr. Judy Beck and Deborah Beck Busis 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself without Food by Dr. Susan Albers Lora Grabow, LMSW 9