Mindful eating for weight loss in women with obesity: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Mindful eating has been linked to improvement in binge eating disorder, but this approach in obesity management has shown conflicting results. Our aim was to assess the effect of mindful eating associated with moderate calorie restriction on weight loss in women with obesity. Metabolic parameters, dietary assessment, eating behavior, depression, anxiety, and stress were also evaluated. A total of 138 women with obesity were randomly assigned to three intervention groups: mindful eating associated with moderate calorie restriction (ME + MCR), moderate calorie restriction (MCR), and mindful eating (ME), and they were followed up monthly for 6 months. ME + MCR joined seven monthly mindfulness-based intervention group sessions each lasting 90 minutes and received an individualized food plan with moderate calorie restriction (deficit of 500 kcal/d). MCR received an individualized food plan with moderate calorie restriction (deficit of 500 kcal/d), and ME joined seven monthly mindfulness-based intervention group sessions each lasting 90 minutes. Seventy patients completed the intervention. Weight loss was significant, but no statistically significant difference was found between the groups. There was a greater reduction in uncontrolled eating in the ME group than in the MCR group and a greater reduction in emotional eating in the ME group than in both the MCR and the ME+MCR groups. No statistically significant differences were found in the other variables evaluated between groups. The association between mindful eating with calorie restriction did not promote greater weight loss than mindful eating or moderate calorie restriction.

Mindful Eating is More Effective to Beat Emotional Eating than Nutrition Education and Diet: A Randomized Controlled Study

“…In a similar study which examined the impact of combining mindful eating education with moderate energy restriction (diet) on weight loss in women with obesity, there was no significant difference in weight loss between them. But the mindful eating group exhibited a greater reduction in uncontrolled eating compared to the diet group, and a similar reduction in emotional eating was observed in both groups, surpassing the diet group (21). Consistent with the literature, mindful eating education and applications may have an effect on problematic eating behaviors mostly emotional eating.…”

Effects of Mindful Eating in Patients with Obesity and Binge Eating Disorder

“…One of the strategies included a nutritional intervention with the practice of ME. The results demonstrated that there was weight loss in all groups, but with no statistical difference between them [ 38 ]. Apparently, the association of ME with calorie restriction did not promote significant weight loss and also presented several limitations [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Practical strategies to manage obesity in type 2 diabetes

“…Mindful eating approaches, which gained increased interest in recent years, were shown to reduce emotional eating, but thus far, without providing evidence for increasing weight loss. 127,128 In addition, several effective behaviour change techniques implicate increasing cognitive awareness and self-efficacy in weight-loss interventions. Self-monitoring of weight or food intake is firmly associated with sustained weight-loss effects and should therefore be strongly encouraged, 129,130 particularly in a weight-loss maintenance phase, at weekly intervals.…”

“…However, it is still a matter of research to find effective ways to trigger cognitive awareness in the clinical context. Mindful eating approaches, which gained increased interest in recent years, were shown to reduce emotional eating, but thus far, without providing evidence for increasing weight loss 127,128 . In addition, several effective behaviour change techniques implicate increasing cognitive awareness and self‐efficacy in weight‐loss interventions.…”