NO MORE DIETS!! Program

NO MORE DIETS!!  is designed for people of all ages who are ready to stop dieting and deal with the real causes of overeating and overweight. The central concept is that dieting is generally unsuccessful because it only temporarily replaces one pattern of behavior for another, but does not alter the real habit of overeating, the actual cause of overweight.

 The usual result of dieting is that following an initial “honeymoon” period (during which the dieter feels she/he has found “the answer”) old habits start to resurface, the diet is abandoned, and weight is regained. The result is the yo-yo dieting syndrome, which is associated with weight fluctuation (“weight cycling”), gradually increasing weight, feelings of loss of control and tendencies towards emotional eating and binge eating. 

 A shelf full of diet books should be a strong indication that diets don’t work, but with each new bestseller hope is renewed and another diet is begun.  Many people have realized that this is ineffective and wish they had never started dieting in the first place.

 Our approach first identifies the problematic behavior pattern and the underlying emotional causes, explores the reasons why the pattern developed in the first place, and works on modifying it. 

 This treatment is conducted either in individual or group therapy formats, depending on preference.  We offer groups for adults and teenagers.  Individual or group therapy may be supplemented with family counseling.

 The format for treatment is as follows: 

 The first step is an assessment, consisting of a number of questionnaires and an interview to examine the problem and its history, and screen for other emotional problems. 

Treatment then begins with a 12-week phase, with weekly sessions (individual sessions are 1 hour; group sessions are 90 minutes). 

After approximately 1 month of treatment, participants will have private sessions with a dietician and an exercise physiologist. These sessions are scheduled at this time because having begun the process of behavior change in the first month of treatment, participants are ready to fully benefit from these consultations. 

Following the 12 weeks, we evaluate the need for additional sessions.  In all cases, an appropriate form of follow-up will be determined.