Tapping for Weight Loss – Can EFT Help You Lose Weight?

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) is a research-backed approach. It’s known to help people treat, manage, and even overcome a range of physical and mental health problems. But can EFT help you lose weight? EFT Tapping for weight loss addresses emotional factors, lowers stress hormones, and helps you break through negative beliefs. To achieve the desired effects, it’s essential to understand how to use it.

What is EFT Tapping?

EFT tapping is a mind-body technique. It works because it incorporates components of evidence-based therapies with acupressure points; the same acupressure points used in acupuncture sessions. With EFT, however, there are no needles. During sessions, you tap on acupressure points on your body and face while concentrating on a thought or feeling to reduce psychological distress.

The Emotional Freedom Technique Explained

While it’s a core element, the Emotional Freedom Technique does not involve tapping movements alone. With roots in acupressure and cognitive behavioral therapy, EFT combines cognitive strategies used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with acupressure points. A very popular treatment, CBT has been proven efficacious in helping people meet a wide range of goals, including weight control. In fact, research shows that CBT results in more significant weight loss compared to strategies that focus solely on diet and exercise.

How EFT Works with Energy and Emotions

The meridian points you tap on during an EFT tapping session are parts of the body where energy flows. Blockages in vital energy pathways cause physical and mental health issues, including stress and stored trauma, which can be connected to poor self-care and eating habits. Using EFT tapping helps to restore energetic balance in the body. It targets blocked or imbalanced flow of energy, produces calming effects, and gives you the power to exit fight or flight mode.

How Does Tapping Support Weight Loss?

How does tapping support weight loss, exactly? In short, tapping addresses potential underlying causes of weight gain or weight cycling. It’s not a temporary fix; tapping addresses several key factors that matter for long-term, positive outcomes.

The Link Between Stress and Weight Gain

Cortisol is a stress hormone. When cortisol stays high for a prolonged period of time, it can have adverse effects on your physical and mental health that impact your daily life. For example, a study of 59 healthy women found that high cortisol reactors consumed more calories on days they were exposed to stress, compared to a control session. Increases in negative mood were also associated with eating more. Over time, this often leads to weight gain.

In research, we see that EFT can reduce cortisol levels. It’s known to increase quality of life, reduce psychological distress, and provide relief from anxiety and depression symptoms, all of which can be vital in overall health and happiness.

Addressing the Root Causes of Emotional Eating

One of the most powerful aspects of EFT is that it can help you address the root cause of challenges like emotional eating. For example:

EFT is an excellent tool for habit change. If you have unhealthy eating habits, this is a strong example of a habit EFT tapping can help you overcome.
EFT helps you reduce stress and get to a neutral mental state. The cognitive reframing techniques you use during the process will help you stay grounded.

As human beings, we tend to use unhealthy coping skills when we don’t have (or haven’t yet solidified) healthy coping strategies. While emotional eating may have served a purpose in your life by acting as a coping skill when you didn’t know what else to do, EFT helps you replace it and understand that you don’t need it anymore.

Long-Term Weight Management with EFT

Because it addresses the root cause, tapping for weight loss can facilitate sustainable results in people facing challenges such as emotional eating. Additionally, EFT tapping is a skill you can use long-term to manage stress. A regular tapping practice is encouraged for those who want to preserve their progress and mental clarity.

After professional instruction, EFT can be used as a self-help technique. This makes it a cost-effective treatment, as it is something you can use independently once you have learned how to.

Step-by-Step Guide to EFT Tapping for Weight Loss

Now that you understand how tapping for weight loss works, let’s talk about how to do it. To use EFT tapping for weight loss, follow these steps in order.

Identify the Issue or Trigger

First, identify the specific issue or trigger you want to target during your EFT session. Let’s say that you are stressed out because of work and are tempted to use poor eating habits for that reason. This is just one example of a trigger you might choose to target. A trigger can be anything that causes distress for you.

Create Your Setup Statement (Affirmation)

The next step is to create your setup statement. This should be a positive affirmation, such as, “I deserve to feel good in my body,” or “even though I am experiencing stress right now, I deserve to feel good in my body.”

Follow the EFT Tapping Points

Tap the following EFT tapping points as you say your setup statement.

Karate chop point.
Top of head.
Eyebrow.
Side of eye.
Under eye.
Under nose.
Chin.
Collarbone.
Under arm.

These are the nine main meridian points used in a basic tapping sequence. Take care not to tap too hard. It should not hurt.

Measure and Repeat

When your sequence is over, rate your level of emotional distress on a scale of 0-10. Then, repeat your tapping sequence (with your setup statement) until the intensity of your distress decreases to a level you are satisfied with

Benefits of EFT Tapping for Weight Loss

Rather than use unhelpful tactics like shame or focusing only on external behaviors to lose weight without addressing the cause, EFT is a practical, lasting solution. It promotes whole-person health; the benefits of tapping for weight loss involve both the body and mind.

Reduces Emotional Eating and Cravings

If emotional eating is a coping mechanism for you, the key is to find a replacement coping mechanism that is healthier. EFT can act as a healthier way to cope. When you have positive coping skills like tapping, you will be able to meet your emotional needs without letting cravings take over.

Improves Portion Control and Mindful Eating

EFT supports mindful eating and portion control in several ways. By facilitating stress reduction, present-moment awareness, and positive self-talk, tapping reduces triggers and empowers you to make choices you’re proud of.

Lowers Stress and Cortisol Levels

By reducing your stress and helping you get back into alignment, EFT tapping can lower your cortisol levels. Using a daily EFT practice can help you work through stressors and emotions mindfully and on a regular basis.

Supports Mental Health and Confidence

Among other benefits, EFT is advantageous for reducing depression, lowering anxiety, and boosting confidence. The positive affirmations you use while tapping for weight loss can help you stay aligned, motivated, and on the right track.

Encourages Long-Term Healthy Habits

In addition to supporting your emotional and psychological well-being, EFT can help you solidify good habits as a routine part of your day or get back on track if you stumble. Continuing to use healthy habits like getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and moving your body means that you will be more likely to reap long-term benefits.

What Does the Science Say?

The science behind EFT tapping for weight loss reveals why and how it works.

Research on EFT and Weight Loss

Weight loss studies show that EFT is a valuable asset. For example, a study on a six-week course using EFT found that participants lost an average of one pound per week and two pounds per month between pretest and one-year follow-up. Another study found that EFT is very effective in reducing cravings and the power of food; participants also experienced improvements in dietary restraint, which were maintained over two years.

Comparing EFT with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

While treatments like cognitive behavior therapy can be valuable for weight management, there’s a special advantage to using EFT tapping. EFT allows you to combine the benefits of behavioral strategies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, with a somatic approach, which requires connecting with your body. Rather than focusing solely on the mental aspect or the physical aspect, EFT tapping integrates both.

Brain Imaging and Cortisol Studies

EFT supports balance and tranquility in the body in multiple ways. Research studies on the use of tapping for various concerns consistently show that EFT tapping can lead to reductions in cortisol levels. We also see normalization in brain patterns, including the activation and deactivation of signals that are beneficial to the psychological issues being addressed through sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does tapping really work for weight loss?

Yes. EFT tapping addresses underlying causes that contribute to weight gain or difficulty with weight management for many people. It is a highly beneficial adjunct treatment alongside traditional weight loss methods, and it can help you stick to healthy habits.

How often should I do tapping for weight loss?

Consistency is key. Daily tapping sessions for weight loss are ideal.

Can EFT replace diet and exercise?

No. EFT helps you address concerns like emotional stress, high cortisol levels caused by emotional stress, and habits like overeating. While taking care of your mental health is vital for the health of your physical body, tapping should be used alongside nutrition and physical activity. This is important for everyone, regardless of their goals.

Is tapping safe for everyone?

Tapping is safe for the majority of people. Some trauma survivors may find that it activates past trauma or intense emotions. Getting guidance from an experienced practitioner can help to ensure that you use EFT tapping safely and appropriately, based on your needs.

How long does it take to see results with tapping?

Emotional benefits tend to be immediate, with individuals experiencing a reduction in distress right away. This is why you are supposed to rate your levels of distress until they reduce following a sequence. Weight loss takes time. People who use tapping for weight loss can experience steady, sustainable weight loss (e.g., 0.5-1 pound per week).

Risks, Myths, and Precautions

EFT is safe, but it’s not a “magic pill.” Many factors influence weight, and EFT can’t replace treatments that may be required for certain medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s syndrome, which can affect body size. Even if only to err on the safe side, make sure that you consult with healthcare professionals if you suspect that you could have a physical health condition that has gone unaddressed until now. One additional precaution to take is to avoid becoming overly preoccupied with numbers, including scale weight and measurements. EFT tapping can help you navigate challenges like overeating caused by stress. Still, everyone has a unique body that will respond to the same eating habits and activity level differently. Honor your body and prioritize health over numbers

Tips to Get the Most from Tapping

Tapping is an incredible tool that can support a more peaceful, sustainable life and relationship with food. However, it’s just one component of caring for your well-being. Apply these tips to get the most from tapping for weight loss.

Combine EFT with nutrition and exercise. Use tapping to help yourself integrate the habits you want to maintain long-term.
Track your progress. Whether through a journal or app, this can help you stay encouraged and, as time goes on, see how far you’ve come.
Be consistent and patient. Results take time. Building health-promoting routines you can stick to matters more than rapid weight loss.

Finally, seek professional guidance if needed. Medical providers can assist you with nutrition, physical activity, and other aspects of self-care. Similarly, EFT practitioners can support you through emotional challenges or problems, such as feeling stuck or unsure about whether you’re conducting tapping sequences correctly.

Conclusion

Tapping for weight loss works by addressing the root causes of weight gain and weight cycling, including emotional and stress-related triggers. The best way to build a tapping practice that works for you is to explore EFT with a practitioner. For optimal results, use EFT in conjunction with other healthy habits as part of a comprehensive wellness strategy.