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Monday 01 June 2009 16:18
Patrick Stafford (SmartCompany)
New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that while 62% of the country's population was overweight during 2007-08, up from 54% the previous year, an increasing number of people are spending more money on physical fitness.
The ABS figures show that 34% of men and 21% of women
from "disadvantaged" areas are overweight, with 39% of men and
23% of women from richer areas overweight.
But new IBISWorld figures show that the fitness industry is growing, with thenumber of people employed as instructors and personal trainers jumping from 12,000 in 2001 to 18,000 in 2003. About 1.7 million Australians now use a gym, while revenue from gyms and fitness centres recorded $475 million in 2003-04, and is expected to reach $882.5 million in 2008-09.
"In a culture that increasingly values a prescribed notion of physical beauty, there is mounting pressure on Australians to do something about our appalling obesity crisis, which means we're prepared to spend an increasing proportion of our disposable income trying to slim down," said IBISWorld general manger Robert Bryant in a statement.
"Despite
the global financial crisis, this financial year, Australians will spend
$721.1 million on a combination of counselling services, low-calorie foods
and shakes, diet cookbooks, weight loss guides, supplements and slimming
surgery - up from $512 million in 2004."
Bryant said that the company expects the weight loss industry to grow by 2.3% during the year, and by 5.9% per year until 2014 as those looking to lose weight look at cheaper surgery and different technologies.
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CEO of the Australian Counsellors Association, Philip Armstrong sees the battle patients go through with weight issues on a regular basis:
"The reality is weight loss success, if measured against sustainability (keeping it off permanently) in most programs, is marginal. The data and research is overwhelming. Most weight loss programs are not sustainable over a longer period of time with many people putting the weight back on plus anything from 10% to 20%".
"This is because most weight loss programs don't address the emotional or behavioural aspects of eating. No amount of exercise or education in relation to nutrition really has any long term beneficial effect. "
In the face of constant bombardment from weight loss companies and quick fix schemes, against a landscape of impossibly perfect body images portrayed in the media, most people are overwhelmed by the challenge and eventually lose the battle of will versus the subconscious:
"Even people such as Oprah who have personal
trainers, cooks etc; are unable to successfully maintain a healthy weight
management program with any success. Why? Because she has not dealt with
the emotional baggage she brings with her to her programs." 
Virtual Reality Therapy can compliment and enhance an established counselling program or introduce a complete weight management therapy as a new service to your practice. It can address the emotional and behavioural issues that come with weight programs.
"Traditional counselling programs deal with issues at the conscious level which are constantly being undermined by the subconscious. Conversely, deep relaxation therapy alone is limited as the subconscious is constantly being undermined by the conscious."
"For practitioners to be successful when dealing with eating issues, both levels of the mind must be in unison in relation to the messages they are sending and receiving. This enables a person to cognitively and emotionally deal with eating issues."
"It's highly unlikely any weight loss program, regardless of how it is delivered or by whom, is going to meet its full potential unless mind issues are included as part of the program. "
In his private practice, Philip has used Virtual Reality Therapy for over a year. He has used the system in a broad range of therapeutic settings, including weight management and has seen some impressive results first hand:
"Virtual Reality Therapy used in conjunction with
traditional counselling tackles both the conscious and subconscious mind.
This technology is a powerful tool within a more sophisticated program."
VRT enhances the altered state experience, taking advantage of the fact that the patient is immersed in a virtual environment where many subliminal visual and audio messages can be conveyed, bypassing the conscious mind:
"I believe my program combined with Virtual Reality Therapy brings a whole new dimension to currently available therapies on the market as together they deal with the whole issue of successful weight loss as opposed to dealing with the outer world only".
For more information about VRT or the weight
management program, contact Virtual Medicine on 1800
667 246 (1800 NO PAIN) or email your questions
to: info@virtualmedicine.com.au
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