title: Development of a novel mindfulness and cognitive behavioral intervention for stress-eating: a comparative pilot study.
abstract: Stress-related eating is increasingly cited as a difficulty in managing healthy eating behaviors and weight. However few interventions have been designed to specifically target stress-related eating. In addition, the optimal target of such an intervention is unclear, as the target might be conceptualized as overall stress reduction or changing emotional eating-related thoughts and behaviors. This pilot study compared the effects of three interventions targeting those components individually and in combination on stress-related eating, perceived stress, and weight loss to determine whether the two intervention components are effective alone or are more effective when combined. Fifty-three overweight participants (98% female) who reported elevated levels of stress and stress-eating and were at risk for obesity were randomly assigned to one of three six-week interventions: a modified mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention, a cognitive behavioral stress-eating intervention (SEI), and a combined intervention that included all MBSR and SEI components. All three interventions significantly reduced perceived stress and stress-eating, but the combination intervention resulted in greater reductions and also produced a moderate effect on short term weight loss. Benefits persisted at six week follow-up.The pattern of results preliminarily suggests that the combination intervention (MBSR+SEI) may yield promise in the treatment of stress-related eating.
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corsica
authors.forename: Megan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hood
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Katterman
authors.forename: Brighid
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kleinman
authors.forename: Iulia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ivan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness; D050177:Overweight / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss