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


 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.