Virtual gastric band that's changing lives

Driving instructor Ozzy Winfield used to crave potatoes, bread and all things fatty until he hit 20 stone and started to worry about his health. Now he no longer wants to eat fatty or starchy food, feels full much quicker and has lost more than three stone in just a few months.

"I feel so much better already," says Ozzy, 55. "I have always struggled with my weight but now I am really seeing a difference and so quickly."

Ozzy hasn't had a gastric band fitted; instead, he went to see hypnotherapist Sheila Grange who own Trans Actions in Beverley. Sheila has successfully completed a group trial to test the effects of a "Virtual Gastric Band".

The virtual gastric band is applied under hypnosis. The subconscious believes the stomach is smaller and the mind doesn't allow a person to over-eat. There is no diet, just simple rules to reduce portion sizes, motivation to exercise and a supporting hypnotherapy CD to listen to each day. "In the first week, I explained that I do not wave a magic wand," says Sheila. "Instead, by following the rules each person should achieve a natural, steady loss of inches."

A group comprising of 21 people of varying ages, lifestyles and weights shared one common factor – a history of diet plans and a struggle to maintain a satisfactory weight and size.

"Twenty-one candidates completed the trial and each of them experienced good results over the five-week programme.

"When the trial began I expected to see a 50-60 per cent success rate. However, I am very excited to find that we have had a 99 per cent positive result. The final session was a tightening of the band and now I won't see the group until late November for pre-Christmas support."

Castle Hill Hospital in Hull refers patients with weight problems to Sheila. One particularly successful candidate, due to undergo an actual gastric band operation in January is under a consultant at Castle Hill Hospital. She weighed 21.5 stones and has lost two stones since the trial began. She is considering cancelling the operation.

Sheila says that the most important difference between the virtual gastric and the actual gastric band is that the virtual version deals with the issues in a person's mind and their relationship with food. "Having a foreign body inside your stomach simply does not deal with psychological factors. A surgical patient can still over eat and burst the band. With the virtual band, if they find they are eating too much, it can be tightened under hypnosis, there is no invasive surgery and they are treating the psychological problems not just the physical."

Sheila wants to take her findings to the NHS.

"I think the virtual gastric band can support and in some cases replace the actual gastric band. The NHS needs to save money and considering the cost of the surgery (approximately 10K) and Britain's obesity problem the success of the virtual band cannot be ignored."

As for Ozzy, he is happy with the results and plans to lose another three stone in as many months. "I only had four sessions but I stopped over-eating over night. It's brilliant."

http://sheilagranger. blogspot.com, email: think@sheilagranger.

com