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: Dayna.Lee-Baggley@nshealth.ca