The use of compassion in the treatment of obesity
Dr. Dayna Lee-BaggleyBehaviour Change Institute
Nova Scotia Health AuthorityDalhousie University
Shame based interventions
Shame based interventions
Shame based interventions• BMI report card for kids• 25% of states in the US• “I don’t think that it’s the role of
the school to be the schoolyard bully… ” says Dr. Yoni Freedhoff.
Source: Vogel (2011)
Shame based interventions
• Shame based interventions rarely work• Why?
Self-compassion• The “antidote” for shame. • What is self-compassion:• Self kindness: treat oneself gently when encountering
failures.• Common humanity: recognize failures are part of human
nature. • Mindfulness: take a nonjudgemental and present perspective.• Skill that can be strengthened.
Source: Neff (2003)
Self-compassion is not
• Self pity: immersed in their own problems and forget that others have similar problems.
• Self-indulgence: Giving into pleasure regardless of the consequences.
• Self-esteem: The need for high self-esteem may encourage us to ignore, distort or hide personal shortcomings so that we can’t see ourselves clearly and accurately. Based on accomplishments.
Source: Neff (2016)
Self-compassion
• How does self-compassion help?
• Compassion is related to persistence in difficult tasks.
• All health behaviors are essentially difficult tasks.
Compassion in children
• Some developmental studies on empathy in children.
• More studies on mindfulness in children.• Some studies on compassion in caregivers.
Compassion in obesity
• Most research to date is on reducing obesity stigma by increasing empathy.
• Novel research on the use of compassion in treatment of obesity.
• The evolutionary adaptiveness of obesity. • Your body is doing exactly what it is designed to
do.“More than half of [South Sudan’s] entire population is starving.” NBC News, June 29, 2016
• Evolutionary adaptiveness of obesity• Search for honey• Triathletes• Who’s for lunch?
Self-compassion
• Treating our bodies with respect, giving our bodies appropriate fuel, appreciating what bodies can do instead of how they look.
• Compassionate Hands • Extending Gratitude to Your Body
Source: Neff (2005); Lillis et al. (2014)
Other resources (public)
Other resources (professionals)
Dayna Lee-Baggley, Ph.D.Registered Psychologist
Nova Scotia Health AuthorityBehaviour Change Institute
3rd floor, Bethune Building, Room 3361276 South Park Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 2Y9Phone: (902) 473-4686 Fax: (902) 473-2148
Email: [email protected]