Weight Management

A 2-year longitudinal follow-up study found that an 8-week online Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) intervention significantly reduced food cravings, anxiety, depression, and somatic symptoms, while improving dietary restraint, with most benefits maintained over the 2-year period. Although weight loss was not sustained at 2 years, the study suggests that EFT can be a valuable addition to traditional weight loss interventions, with benefits extending beyond weight loss to improved psychological and emotional well-being.

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.

This pilot study investigated the effects of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on brain activity in overweight adults experiencing food cravings, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Results showed that EFT led to significant reductions in food cravings and decreased activation in brain regions associated with reward and cognition, suggesting potential neurological mechanisms behind its effectiveness in weight management.

This randomised controlled trial (RCT) investigated the effectiveness of online Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) for managing food cravings and weight loss. Results showed significant reductions in cravings, weight, anxiety, depression, and somatic symptoms, with treatment gains maintained at 6- and 12-month follow-ups, suggesting online EFT is a promising tool for long-term weight management.

This pilot study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the effect of Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on brain activation in response to food cravings in overweight/obese individuals, finding that EFT decreased food cravings and brain activity in areas associated with emotional processing. The study suggests that EFT may be a useful technique for reducing food-related symptoms and weight loss by influencing brain activity in regions linked to emotional regulation and food cravings.

This study compares the effectiveness of a 4-week versus an 8-week Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) program for food cravings in overweight adults, finding that both intervention lengths resulted in significant reductions in cravings, dietary restraint, Body Mass Index (BMI), and weight. While the 8-week program showed sustained effects on cravings and restraint ability over time, the 4-week program led to greater weight loss, suggesting that shorter programs may enhance adherence and motivation.

Researchers compared the effectiveness of 4-week and 8-week Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) programs for weight loss and found that both programs significantly reduced food cravings, improved eating habits, and led to weight loss. The 8-week program showed better results in maintaining reduced food cravings and improved eating habits over time, but the 4-week program resulted in more weight loss. Overall, the study suggests that EFT can be a helpful tool for weight loss, and that both shorter and longer programs can be effective, but more research is needed to confirm the optimal program length.

A six-week online course using Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) helped participants reduce body weight, depression symptoms, and their sensitivity to food triggers while sustaining long-term weight loss benefits. However, the program showed no significant effects on PTSD symptoms or anxiety, and improvements in happiness levels were not statistically significant.

This is the first controlled non-inferiority trial to examine the effectiveness of two psychological interventions: Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), in treating secondary psychological outcomes of obesity.

This randomized clinical trial involved 96 adults and found that Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) significantly reduced food cravings and improved restraint capabilities compared to a waitlist group. The benefits of EFT were maintained at 6-month follow-up, with a delayed effect on craving restraint. While both groups showed reduced psychological distress, the between-group difference was not significant.

This study investigated the effectiveness of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) in reducing psychological distress in healthcare workers. The research, which included 217 participants attending six professional conferences, found significant improvements in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD after a 2-hour EFT intervention. These gains were maintained at follow-up for most participants. The study suggests EFT can provide immediate and sustained benefits for healthcare workers' mental health.

Thought Field Therapy (TFT) is a self-administered treatment developed by psychologist Roger Callahan. TFT uses energy meridian treatment points and bilateral optical–cortical stimulation while focusing on the targeted symptoms or problem being addressed. Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is considered to be a more simplified form of TFT.