Weight Loss: A Successful Pilot Study on Emotional Intelligence and Weight Release

Weight Loss: The Inside Out SolutionA successful Pilot Study on leveraging the power of

Emotional Intelligence to release physical body weight.

by MC Lessard, B.Sc.,CEC, ACC

We fly to the moon.

Copyright © 2017 WRAP – MC Lessard – www.mclessard.comJanuary 2017 2

Source: Nasa, March 29th, 2014

We transplant organs.


Source: University of Washington, UW Today, Sept. 13th, 2012

We have eradicated small pox.


Source: Wikihealth, accessed January 17th, 2017.

But, we have yet to find the solution to obesity and overweight.



?

?

?


The most recent weight loss studies continue to arrive at the same uninsightful conclusions: weight loss and maintenance are achieved when better food choices are made, portions

are controlled, and an active lifestyle is adopted.

If it’s so simple, why did the WHO report, in 2016, that there are over 2 billion obese and overweight persons

on the planet, the highest number in the history of mankind?

?


If weight loss requires changes in lifestyle, what solutions do affective neuroscience,

positive psychology, sociology and other related

behavioural change sciences have to offer?

?


If weight gain is often the result of emotional eating, what would happen ifpeople understood and regulated their

emotions more effectively?

Our Hypothetical AnswerPILOT STUDY PREMISE


Developing one’s Emotional Intelligence in a structured setting and using a

goal-driven process is an effective way to release physical weight.

Weight Release Action Program® (WRAP)

A Personal Development program using the EQ-i 2.0®,an Emotional Intelligence assessment was designed

to verify the hypothesis. k


Weight Release Action Program® (WRAP)


Since Personal Development requires that we modify our beliefs first and then our behaviour, our solution is an “inside out” process.

Current weight loss solutions generally promote changes in behaviour without addressing the underlying beliefs which is, according to the author, the key reason why those who successfully release weight typically gain the weight back within a few years.

EQ-i 2.0® - Emotional Intelligence Assessment


Leaders and managers are expected to lead and implement change. In the process, they are called to change their own behaviour to be more effective in their role.

Among the popular tools currently used to assist leaders and managers in the Personal Deveopmentprocess are Emotional Intelligence assessments.

One such tool is the EQ-i 2.0®, published and distributed by Multi-Health Systems.

Sold in 75 countries in 50 languages, it stands as one of the leading tools on the market.

Weight Release Action Program® (WRAP)k

COMPONENTS


Extensive Pre-program Selection Questionnaire

Pre-program EQ-i 2.0® Assessment & Report

6 hours of 1:1 Personal Development Coaching

Setting of a SMART WRAP Goal

12 weekly live video webinars – 60 minutes

Weekly written, self-reflection, exercises


Emotional logging

Physical activity logging

Weight logging

Access to monitored secret Facebook group for support

End-of program EQ-i 2.0® Assessment & Report

Weight Release Action Program (WRAP)k

COMPONENTS

WRAP – Pilot Group 1.0DEMOGRAPHICS


Program duration January - April 2016

Gender Women only

Group size 8

Ages 29 - 63

WRAP – Pilot Group 1.0


WEEKLY PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT MODULES

WEEK TOPIC1 Introduction/Beliefs2 Identity3 Values4 Habits & Patterns5 Outer World Reflects Inner World6 Strengths, Talents, and Skills

WRAP – Pilot Group 1.0


WEEKLY PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT MODULES

WEEK TOPIC7 Purpose, Passion, and Vision - Part 1 8 Purpose, Passion, and Vision - Part 29 Q & A10 Stress Management11 Time Management12 Celebration

WRAP – Pilot Group 1.0WEEKLY WEBINARS


Live, interactive, online webinars allowed participants living in 3 time zones and 2 continents to engage weekly with minimal disruption to their busy lives..

WRAP – Pilot Group 1.0RESULTS


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-20

-10

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10

20

30

40

Abby Brandy Cassie Daisy Ely Fanny Gracie HalleWei

ght

Ch

ange

Participants – Fictional names for anonymity

Wt Change (kg) Apr '16 Wt Change (kg) Aug '16 EQ-I Total Change Well-Being Index Change



Well-being Index

Consists of 4 Emotional Intelligence competencies:

• Self-Regard• Self-Actualization• Optimism• Interpersonal Relationships

Increased for ALL participants.

Increases varied from 2.5 to 21.8%



Are you an ‘emotional eater?’Pre-WRAP Post-WRAP

Yes 8 Yes 1

No 0 No 3

Somewhat 0 Somewhat 4

WRAP – Pilot Group 1.0POOLED RESULTS


Most Increased EQ CompetencyCompetency Total Group Change

Impulse Control 135

Reality Testing 113

Independence 112

WRAP – Pilot Group 1.0POOLED RESULTS


Least Increased EQ CompetencyCompetency Total Group Change

Empathy 36

Stress Tolerance 40

Emotional Expression 58

WRAP – Pilot Group 1.0INDIVIDUAL RESULTS


The EQ-i 2.0® Competencies that increased the most for individual participants were generally those where they had scored the

lowest in the Pre-program assessment.

Individual sample results Pre- Post- DiffEmotional Awareness

Emotional Expression

Impulse Control

NOTE: General population average for each competency is 95.

77 113 36

61 98 37

84 119 35

WRAP – Pilot Group 1.0TOP 10 CONCLUSIONS


#1Physical weight loss varied significantly amongst participants.

The factors which appeared to have contributed to the loss arealso varied and subjective. The Pilot Study did not have theresources to accurately measure their distinct and/orcompounded influence.



#2At the end of the 90-day program 3 of 8 participants experienced a slightweight gain.

Again, the factors which appeared to have contributed to the gain arevaried and subjective. They were not measured during the Pilot Study. Itwill be interesting to see if, in the annual follow-ups whether, theparticipant’s desired weight loss is eventually achieved.



#3With 7 of 8 participants declaring that they no longerconsidered themselves emotional eaters at the end of theWRAP, it is reasonable to state that this was a key benefit ofthe program.



#4Although no direct correlation was established between the totalEQ-i 2.0® scores and overall weight changes, the fact that the mostsignificant EQ competency increases, for individual participants,were seen where they had initially scored the lowest hints at thepossibility that the balancing of EQ competencies is perhaps wherethe core value of this approach lies.



The author had expected Impulse Control to show up as one of the EQcompetencies where the majority of the participants would score low.

The EQ-i 2.0® scores confirmed this prediction. Impulse Control was thelowest of all 15 EQ Competencies.

#5



The Well-Being Index improved for all participants.Of the four relevant EQ competencies the comprise the WBI, it is highlyinteresting to note that pooled Self-Actualization score represents the highestof all 15 scales.Current literature supports the link between Happiness (or Well-being) andSelf-Actualization. With the WRAP being, essentially, a self-empowermentjourney, this result is congruent.

#6



#7The EQ Competency with the lowest pooled score is Social Responsibility.

The author wonders if the underlying cause could be that the WRAPparticipants, being busy modern-day professional women, were toooverwhelmed by competing responsibilities – namely, domestic life andworkplace obligations - to contribute to their wider community.



#8Most participants stated that the Pre-program EQ-i 2.0® report wasaccurate though not hugely insightful.

From the coach’s point of view, the Pre-program reports were of greatvalue in pinpointing growth opportunities as well as for the setting of theWRAP Goal while the Post-program reports are useful for drawing thesePILOT STUDY CONCLUSIONS.

In this context, the positioning of the assessment in the sales process mightneed to revised.



#9All 8 participants, declared that their WRAP participation had beensuccessful even though it might not have culminated in the desiredphysical weight release.



#10The high satisfaction rate may indicate that there is value in a weightloss approach based on the development of EQ although the WRAPmay need to be modified to help participants increase the probabilityof hitting their desired weight loss target to complement the otherbenefits of the program.

Further insight will be sought in the next WRAP groups.

Moving Forward


HYPOTHESIS

Developing one’s Emotional Intelligence in a structured setting and using a goal-driven process is an effective way to release physical weight.

1. Results of the Pilot Study show promise for the support of the above hypothesis.2. More participants need to complete the WRAP before valid conclusions can be made.3. Pilot Group 1.0 graduates were invited to participate in annual follow-up for the next 4 years to assess long-

term weight loss maintenance success. Note that the author defines long term as 5 years, not 1 or 2 years as it is often seen in current scientific literature.

4. Since there are can be only advantages to developing one’s Emotional Intelligence, anyone wishing to release physical and/or emotional weight should consider learning more about EQ through the reading of popular literature.

Weight Release Action Program (WRAP)


http://mclessard.com/program/90-day-weight-loss/

http://mclessard.com/program/90-day-weight-loss/

MC Lessard, is a Certified Executive Coach and Emotionologist. Also equipped with a B.Sc. in Nutrition (Dietetics Major), MC practiced as a professional dietitian in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Having witnessed and catalyzed personal transformations in the coaching arena through the leveraging of Emotional Intelligence, MC is inspired to explore the power of emotionology and how it relates to the creation of the happier, healthier, and more successful lives we all crave. Her personal development programs, coaching services, and Emotional Awareness Training(TM) workshops are offered online and onsite, internationally.

[email protected].


Weight Loss: A Successful Pilot Study on Emotional Intelligence and Weight Release

Self Improvement

Transcript of Weight Loss: A Successful Pilot Study on Emotional Intelligence and Weight Release