In order to lose weight, "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy", which combines healthy nutrition and psychological therapy, both lose excess weight and maintain the lost weight more easily. Merve Öz, one of the few experts who has applied this method in Turkey, is a first in Turkey as she is both a Clinical Psychology specialist and a Nutrition and Dietetics specialist.

Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital Clinical Psychology and Nutrition and Dietetics Specialist Merve Öz: "The method aims to change the brain. People learn to create plates without being tied to any food list. Merve Öz, who has two different specialties, stated: "Actually, there is a simple equation. If the calories we take in are more than the calories we spend, we gain weight. At this point, the brain is very effective, the problem is not in the stomach. The brain triggers weight gain. When you lose weight, you need to change your brain. By focusing on thinking and behavior that sabotages the brain, we need to replace them with healthier ones.”

The Brain Changes with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Merve Öz describes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as follows: "Cognitive behavioral therapy is a method of psychotherapy. We aim to replace behaviors and thoughts that prevent people from losing weight and cause them to regain it after losing weight with behaviors and thoughts that are healthy and functional. We perform 5 sessions of behavioral therapy and 5 sessions of cognitive therapy. Then the checks continue.”

Those Who Lose Weight Keep Their Weight

 Noting that the therapy brought positive results, Merve Öz shared the information she obtained in the comparison between the two groups who lost weight:

"I divided my patients into two groups with equal gender, age, and body mass index. I applied nutritional training to one of the groups and cognitive behavioral therapy to the other in addition to nutritional training. When I compared these two groups at the end of 8 sessions, I observed weight loss in both of them. However, when the scales applied in the first and last sessions were compared in the group receiving cognitive behavioral therapy in addition to nutrition education, "emotional eating" decreased, and "mindful eating" increased.  I did not observe such a result only in the group receiving nutrition education. My observation process is still ongoing. The feeding group slowly began to gain weight. On the other hand, those in the cognitive-behavioral therapy group still maintain their weight.”

Individuals Become Their Own Dietitians

Thanks to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, we get extremely good results in people who have experienced unsuccessful weight loss. Merve Öz also added: "We will solve the weight problem before people get tired psychologically. They do not need to follow any diet list. They literally became their own dietitian. Because they learn very well what and how they must eat.”

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