Abstract
Two forms of suggestion were practiced by a randomly assigned experimental group of twenty-seven volunteers, over a six week period, to determine the effects of suggestion on dietary intake, weight loss, and perception of food. One form of suggestion entailed reading a variety of written suggestions every time before eating and/or drinking. The other form was auditory; subjects listened to a fifteen minute cassette tape which led them through a variety of imagery suggestions. ANOVA, analysis of variance, was used to determine that the experimental group (n = 27) experienced a significant average weight loss of 4.963 pounds (p > .001) and decreased total daily caloric intake by approximately 200 calories per day; the control group (n = 21) gained an average of one pound with a slight increase in daily caloric intake. Experimental subjects indicated that they were less anxious, less frustrated, and less depressed before eating a favorite food. They reported a lessening of liking foods that were harmful to them and experienced a diminution of their desire for eating such foods.
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