Mindfulness‐based interventions for obesity‐related eating behaviours: a literature review

Abstract

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) targeting eating behaviors have gained popularity in recent years. A literature review was conducted to determine the effectiveness of MBIs for treating obesity-related eating behaviors, such as binge eating, emotional eating, and external eating. A search protocol was conducted using the online databases Google Scholar, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Ovid Healthstar. Articles were required to meet the following criteria to be included in this review: (1) describe a MBI or the use of mindfulness exercises as part of an intervention, (2) include at least one obesity-related eating behavior as an outcome, (3) include quantitative outcomes, and (4) be published in English in a peer-reviewed journal. A total of N=21 articles were included in this review. Interventions used a variety of approaches to implement mindfulness training, including combined mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapies, mindfulness-based stress reduction, acceptance-based therapies, mindful eating programs, and combinations of mindfulness exercises. Targeted eating behavior outcomes included binge eating, emotional eating, external eating, and dietary intake. Eighteen (86%) of the reviewed studies reported improvements in the targeted eating behaviors. Overall, the results of this first review on the topic support the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions for changing obesity-related eating behaviors, specifically binge eating, emotional eating, and external eating.

‘I can’t accept that feeling’: Relationships between interoceptive awareness, mindfulness and eating disorder symptoms in females with, and at-risk of an eating disorder

“…Evidence is accumulating regarding the specific nature of emotion regulation difficulties in eating disorders (Brockmeyer et al, 2014;Butryn et al, 2013;Garner, 2004;Haynos & Fruzzetti, 2011;Lavender et al, 2014;Merwin, 2011;Racine & Wildes, 2013) and the potential therapeutic benefits of MBTs for eating related disorders has received increased empirical support (DeSole, 2013;Godsey, 2013;Katterman, Kleinman, Hood, Nackers, & Corsica, 2014;Kristeller & Epel, 2014;O'Reilly, Cook, Spruijt-Metz, & Black, 2014;Wanden-Berghe, Sanz-Valero, & Wanden-Berghe, 2011). …”

Comparison of Mindful and Slow Eating Strategies on Acute Energy Intake

“…A study conducted by Timmerman and Brown examined the effects of a mindfulness-based restaurant eating intervention in perimenopausal women and found that women in the mindfulness group ate less (45). Reviewers of 21 mindfulness-based interventions found that 86% of studies supported the notion that these interventions are efficacious in positively changing obesity-related eating behaviors (46). Along with a potential impact on acute energy intake, it is suggested that mindfulness-based strategies may also affect satiety and eating behaviors.…”

“…Research shows that mindfulness based practice may have a positive effect not only on energy intake, but also on stress (48-50), negative affect (48), depression (40,48), body image (51), binge eating (40,46,48,52,53), food cravings (51), and overall healthier eating behaviors (46,(48)(49)(50)(51)(54)(55)(56). For example, mindfulness-based interventions to reduce stress eating (also known as emotional eating), or eating in response to emotional cues -positive or negative (57)(58)(59), resulted in improvement in mindfulness, anxiety, cortisol awakening response (CAR), and external-based eating as well as maintenance of body weight (49).…”

Effects of self-conditioning techniques in promoting weight loss in patients with severe obesity: a randomized controlled trial protocol

“…17 Many studies have supported the benefits of mindfulness-based interventions to control some obesity-related behaviors, including binge eating, emotional eating, externally-induced eating, and to promote weight loss maintenance. 18 Hypnosis has been considered either "a distinct state of consciousness" or a normal state with heighten suggestibility determined by social influence combined with a set of cognitive-behavioral skills. 19 The core components of hypnosis involve reduced awareness of external stimuli, increased responsiveness to hypnotic suggestions, deep relaxation, increased capacity to enhance mental representations, and absorption in hypnotic suggestions.…”