Coping with food cravings. Investigating the potential of a mindfulness-based intervention.
The present study examined whether mindfulness-based strategies can effectively reduce food cravings in an overweight and obese adult population. Individuals participating in a dietary group treatment for overweight received an additional 7-week manual based training that aimed to promote regulation of cravings by means of acceptance. The control group did not receive this additional training program. The results showed that participants in the experimental group reported significantly lower cravings for food after the intervention compared to the control group. The findings are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms like prevention of goal frustration, disengagement of obsessive thinking and reduction of automatic relations between urge and reaction.
Alberts
Hugo J E M
HJ
Maastricht University, The Netherlands. h.alberts@maastrichtuniversity.nl <h.alberts@maastrichtuniversity.nl>
Mulkens
Sandra
S
Smeets
Maud
M
Thewissen
Roy
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001519:Behavior; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000523:psychology; D050177:Overweight / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods