Which facets of mindfulness are related to problematic eating among patients seeking bariatric surgery?
There has been growing research indicating the potential positive benefits of mindfulness-based interventions for obesity, but few studies have examined the relationship of mindfulness processes to obesity-related behaviors, particularly among clinical populations such as bariatric surgery candidates. The current study examined the relationship of specific mindfulness facets to a variety of problematic eating behaviors assessed through diagnostic interviews in a clinical sample of 820 patients seeking bariatric surgery. Results indicated that greater mindfulness on specific facets, particularly acting with awareness, was related to less binge and emotional eating. Greater mindfulness was also related, though less consistently, to less habitual overeating and grazing. The observing facet was generally unrelated to problematic eating, but in a few cases being more observant related to having greater eating problems. The results of the study and future directions are discussed in relation to research on problematic eating in obesity and mindfulness-based interventions.
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Utah State University, Department of Psychology, Logan, UT, USA. Electronic address: levinm2@gmail.com.
Michael E
ME
Levin
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA.
Kristy
K
Dalrymple
Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA.
Susan
S
Himes
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA.
Mark
M
Zimmerman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000523:psychology*; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
Binge eating; Eating behaviors; Emotional eating; Mindfulness; Obesity