Hypnotherapy versus weight loss drugs is to ask you to consider the following:
Do I need fat jabs?
There’s a good case for them. A genuine case. For example, to cut the rate of heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, or cholesterol if you’re in a high risk group. Then weight loss injections help, especially if you’re morbidly obese, or type-2 diabetes.
I’m not picking a battle with the science.
But if it’s a cosmetic reason (the rise of social media hasn’t helped, looksmaxxing etc.), your BMI isn’t that much over the limit, or you see weight loss injections as a quick fix, may I ask you to consider hypnotherapy?
I would wouldn’t I? I’m a hypnotherapist. But I’ll try and keep this informative and balanced.
What Are “Fat Jabs” and Why Are They So Popular?
“Fat jabs” is a popular media nickname for a group of injectable weight-loss medications that have become hugely popular in recent years—especially on social media and in celebrity culture.
What they actually are is, typically, GLP-1 receptor agonists (they make you feel less hungry). The most well-known include Semaglutide (sold as Ozempic and Wegovy) and Tirzepatide (sold as Mounjaro). They’re usually taken as a weekly injection.
How they work. These medications mimic the hormones that regulate appetite and blood sugar. In simple terms, they make you feel full sooner and longer so you naturally eat less without strict dieting.
Four reasons why fat jabs are so popular
(1). A real noticeable weight loss. Clinical studies and real-world use show often a 10–20% body weight loss, which is much higher than older medications.
(2). Celebrity and social media buzz. High-profile figures, so-called successful people, have reportedly used them, turning “fat jabs” into a viral trend. Celebs include Oprah Winfrey, Sharon Osbourne, Rebel Wilson, Whoopi Goldberg, Elon Musk, Serena Williams, Charles Barkley, Stephen Fry, Boris Johnson, Amy Schumer, Lizzo and Boy George.
(3). Ease compared to dieting alone. For many, appetite suppression feels easier than relying on willpower or restrictive diets.
(4). Medical endorsement. As I mention in the introduction, doctors increasingly prescribe them for obesity, which is now treated more like a chronic condition rather than just a lifestyle issue.
So, what are the downsides and fat jab risks?
Despite the hype, they’re not a magic fix:
- Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, digestive issues
- Possible long-term risks are still being studied
- Weight can return if the medication is stopped
- They can be expensive and sometimes hard to access.
Fat jabs. The bigger picture
“Fat jabs” are part of a shift in how medicine treats obesity - moving from blame and dieting toward biological treatment of appetite and metabolism. They can be very effective.
How Hypnotherapy Works for Weight Loss.
Us hypnotherapists don’t like the word ‘diet’. What we’re looking is at changing how you think feel and act about food, so you’re not:
- constantly grazing
- thinking you deserve a snack/some comfort
- unable to walk past food - a buffet, all the chocolates on the way to pay at the petrol station,
- constantly looking in the fridge
- having a sandwich whilst you cook a meal
- sneaking off to hidden stashes in TV commercial breaks.
It’s about changing the way you think. And the best way to do this is calmly and at the deepest level. Hypnotherapy works best on your subconscious changing what you tell yourself. A kind of software upgrade to 2.0 ‘you’.
Is Hypnotherapy Backed by Science?
Yes. And lots of it.
Take a look at these articles from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, American Psychological Association and Science Direct
Who Is Hypnotherapy Best Suited For?
Quite simply anybody with an open and enquiring mind.
You just have to be willing and motivated.
And, note, hypnosis is a collaborative process and cannot be forced on you against your will.
It’s a simple as that you just need a willingness to participate and trust the process.
Hypnotherapy versus weight loss drugs. Why Quick Fixes Fail
There is a somewhat hidden downside to weight loss injections. Basically you’re telling your body how to respond. It’s an enforced diet.
And diets often fail because they are restrictive, unsustainable, and trigger biological survival mechanisms—such as slowing metabolism and increasing hunger hormones—that make long-term weight maintenance difficult. They frequently lead to cycles of deprivation and bingeing, shifting the focus from healthy habits to short-term results.
This is what can happen when you finish your course of weight loss injections.
You see, with hypnotherapy we’re looking at rewiring your habits instead of suppressing appetite. It’s the idea that sustainable weight loss starts in the mind.
In other words it’s. Breaking free from the boom and bust of the diet cycle
What to Expect from a Hypnotherapy Session
All I ask is that you’re open minded and enjoy the process. After that you do ………. absolutely nothing. Just relax.
That’s the easiest way for my words to find their way to your subconscious and make a change for the better.
I don’t want to say any more because it’s that easy.
A realistic timeline. How long does it take to change a habit?
Hypnotherapy versus weight loss drugs takes time. It's not a quick fix, but hopefully a long-term answer. How? Because hypnotherapy is considered a superior long-term weight loss approach compared to drugs because it addresses the root psychological causes of overeating rather than just suppressing appetite chemically.
It promotes lasting lifestyle changes without side effects, tackling emotional eating, improving self-control, and reprogramming subconscious habits.
As for a timeline if you develop healthy eating habits, keep up the practice of self-hypnosis (i’ll show you how) and exercise, you’ll see a change in under a month.
That’s weight loss, energy and a stamina increase.
Key Reasons Hypnotherapy Can Be Superior to Weight Loss Drugs.
Targets Root Causes: Hypnosis changes subconscious beliefs about food, addressing emotional eating, cravings, and binge triggers, rather than just managing appetite.
In other words we’re rewiring your eating habits to replace automatic behaviours like:
- Snacking when stressed
- Overeating out of boredom with healthier responses (e.g., drinking water, going for a walk).
No Side Effects. Unlike weight loss medications (e.g., injections or pills) that can cause gastrointestinal issues or other adverse reactions, hypnotherapy is a drug-free, non-invasive method.
Long-Term Sustainability. Hypnotherapy gives you the boldness to make sustainable, long-term lifestyle changes and improves self-awareness, reducing the likelihood of regaining weight once treatment ends.
Addresses Mental Wellbeing: It improves mental health by reducing anxiety, increasing self-confidence, and fostering a better body image, which supports continued motivation and lifestyle changes.
To put it another way we’re reducing emotional eating that man people turn to due to stress, anxiety, or comfort-seeking. Hypnosis helps limit your emotional triggers and teach you to build non-food coping mechanisms.
For example, you see unhealthy foods start to feel less appealing and nutritious foods feel more satisfying.
Avoids Dependence. Weight loss drugs are often designed for short-term support, and stopping them can lead to rapid weight regain if habits haven't changed. Hypnotherapy helps you build habits that last.
Empowerment: Instead of relying on a chemical to limit food intake, you gain control over your eating habits through mindset shifts.
You boost your motivation, belief and self-control. Basically what you’re doing is reinforcing how to achieve your long-term goals over short-term cravings. And this builds your confidence in sticking to routines.
This creates a virtuous cycle where you Improve your body awareness as you become more tuned in to recognising your hunger vs. cravings and recognising when you feel full.
Hypnotherapy versus weight loss drugs. The bottom line.
Hypnotherapy helps by aligning your subconscious habits with your conscious goals. Instead of fighting cravings all the time, it aims to reduce them at the source.
Hypnotherapy versus weight loss drugs. My story.
I ate and drank myself to just over 20 stone.
There’s no getting way from it.
I was fat.
How did I get there?
Easy. I ate and drank too much. And loved it at the time.
Then one sticky humid summer’s evening I was waiting on Oxford Street in a queue to go down into Oxford Circus tube. I looked in the window of the Nike store only to see a man staring back at me with sweat rings under the arms of his polo shirt and belly handing over his chinos. Me.
That was my trigger.
In that moment I realised I couldn’t go on and was wasting my life. It was my decision to change.
So I decided no more tea, coffee, carbs, or alcohol for over a year.
My weight came down from just over 20 stone to around 13 and a half.
But what spurred me on were my goals. My challenges.
To run a marathon. Learn to row. Do an Iron Man. Climb Mont Blanc.
Did all four. I’ve now won rowing regattas, done eight marathons, three Iron Man events and climbed Mont Blanc.
It came down to something I now value and understand.
The clock is ticking for us all. Don’t waste time. Set goals, enjoy the process of change and see what you can do.
That, for me, sits above diets and weight loss drugs.
And that’s what I’d be working on with you. Purpose. Meaning.
If you feel this could work for you contact me at jamesthomas@thegentlemind.co.uk or call 07787563099.
