This was a pilot investigation of 30 men and women with a BMI > 27kg/m² over a 24 week period. It aimed to determine whether virtual gastric band (VGB) hypnotherapy has an effect on weight loss in overweight adults, compared to relaxation hypnotherapy and a self-directed diet. Levels of weight loss and gain ranged from -17kg to +4.7kg in the VGB hypnotherapy group and -9.3kg to +7.8kg in the relaxation group. There was no significant difference between VGB hypnotherapy as a main effect on weight loss (Chi²=0.67, p=0.41, df=1) and there was no evidence of differential weight loss over time (Chi²=4.2, p=0.64, df=6). Therefore, this study concludes that there was no significant difference between VGB hypnotherapy and the relaxation hypnotherapy
