Online Delivery of Emotional Freedom Techniques for Food Cravings and Weight Management: 2-Year Follow-Up

Stapleton, Peta; Lilley-Hale, Evangeline; Mackintosh, Glenn; Sparenburg, Emma

doi:10.1089/acm.2019.0309

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…A recent two year follow-up of an 8-week online intervention program for overweight or obese adults found participants' food craving, perceived power of food, dietary restraint capabilities and all psychological distress symptoms (i.e. anxiety, depression and somatic) remained significantly reduced from the end of treatment to two-year follow-up [59] with no further treatment and a distinct lack of in-between session homework. This study suggested that using EFT in the sessions alone resulted in a reduction of cravings that did not require any further intervention from the end of the 8-week program.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Initial Investigation of Neural Changes in Overweight Adults with Food Cravings after Emotional Freedom Techniques

Stapleton¹,

Buchan²,

Mitchell

et al. 2018

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Background: This pilot randomised clinical trial investigated the effect of Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on brain activation in response to food craving stimuli using functional magnetic resonance imaging. EFT is a brief stress reduction technique which involves stating a cognitive statement with stimulation of acupressure points with a tapping technique. Method: Fifteen overweight/obese adults were allocated to a four-week group EFT treatment or control condition and completed a measure of food craving. Random repeating images of high-calorie food designed to engage parts of the brain were presented during the pre and post fMRI scans. Results:The Group x Time interaction for food cravings were significant for the EFT group when compared to the controls. Participant mean scores decreased by 18% for the EFT group and 5% for the control group. Brain activity was mapped using fMRI measures, and there was relative deactivation in the Superior Temporal Gyrus and lateral orbito-frontal cortex for the EFT treatment group only. The control group however, showed continued activation in these areas. Conclusion: The findings indicated EFT may decrease limbic region brain activity and reduce food related symptoms in overweight/obese individuals. This study also illuminates the neurological mechanisms at work behind the many successful outcome studies of EFT for weight loss. Recommendations for more comprehensive trials are discussed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Initial Investigation of Neural Changes in Overweight Adults with Food Cravings after Emotional Freedom Techniques

Stapleton¹,

Buchan²,

Mitchell

et al. 2018

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“…Significant reductions were observed across all measures for participants in the EFT condition, with no significant differences observed for participants in the waitlist condition. Once the waitlist had also completed the program, the groups were collapsed for analysis and results revealed significant reductions from pre to post-treatment scores across all measures, that was maintained at the six and twelve month follow up (Stapleton, Roos, Mackintosh, Sparenburg & Carter, 2019). The sample was contacted for two-year follow-up and further improvements were experienced for carbohydrates and fast food cravings between 6 months and 2 years (Stapleton, Lilley-Hale, Mackintosh, & Sparenburg, 2019).…”

Section: Online Eft For Food Cravingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Two Modalities of Group Delivery of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Intervention for Food Cravings: Online versus In-Person

Stapleton¹,

Stewart²

2020

JSS

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“…Although EFT has been previously shown to be effective when delivered in online programs [41] with long term follow-up [42] , it is also well known that bariatric patients have psychiatric comorbidities post-surgery and the current study only had passive and online therapist guidance and support. The lack of adherence to EFT intervention within the PPBP with EFT group may reflect this and future trials would benefit from comprehensive psychological pre-assessment and preferably in person therapeutic intervention with this population.…”

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Portion perfection and Emotional Freedom Techniques to assist bariatric patients post surgery: A randomised control trial

Stapleton

Clark²,

Sabot

et al. 2020

Heliyon

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Background: Although significant health improvements are indicated from weight-loss following bariatric surgery, many individuals are unable to lose weight or maintain their weight-loss. The current study aimed to assess whether post-surgery care comprising Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), an emerging energy psychology intervention, combined with a behaviour-based nutrition and portion control eating plan in an online self-guided delivery would aid weight-loss and maintenance in bariatric patients. Methods: A 6-month randomised controlled parallel-group trial. Participants (N ¼ 343; aged 21-69 years; BMI !30 kg/m 2 ) had undergone bariatric surgery (12 þ months prior) and were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: Portion Perfection for Bariatric Patients (PPBP; n ¼ 109), PPBP combined with an eight-week online self-paced EFT treatment (n ¼ 107), and a treatment as usual (TAU) control (n ¼ 127). Participants completed measures of BMI, emotional eating, uncontrolled eating, food cravings, and self-esteem at 8-week posttreatment (n ¼ 158) and 6-month follow-up (n ¼ 109). Results: Mixed-design analyses of variances were conducted to examine the effect of the interventions on outcome measures (pre-intervention, 8-week post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up). Emotional eating decreased significantly from pre-intervention to post-intervention for the PPBP and PPBP with EFT groups, and at 6-month follow-up for the TAU group only. There were no statistically significant between-group differences in other outcome variables. However, at 6-months the PPBP with EFT group experienced the greatest improvements in emotional eating (-16.33%), uncontrolled eating (-9.36%), and self-esteem (þ4.43%), compared to PPBP only or TAU. Conclusion:The effect of EFT combined with the eating plan on psychological variables was largely inconsistent with prior research and discussion of how this may be optimised in future trials is discussed. Clinical trial registration: ACTRN12616001257459.

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Online Delivery of Emotional Freedom Techniques for Food Cravings and Weight Management: 2-Year Follow-Up

Cited by 10 publications

References 30 publications

An Initial Investigation of Neural Changes in Overweight Adults with Food Cravings after Emotional Freedom Techniques

An Initial Investigation of Neural Changes in Overweight Adults with Food Cravings after Emotional Freedom Techniques

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Two Modalities of Group Delivery of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Intervention for Food Cravings: Online versus In-Person

Portion perfection and Emotional Freedom Techniques to assist bariatric patients post surgery: A randomised control trial

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