Mindfulness and mindful eating may not decrease calorie intake, predict healthy eating and improve mood

Mindfulness interventions have a numerous benefits for health, like affecting eating behavior and mood, which are important factors in preventing health problems. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects two mindfulness approaches, mindfulness and mindful eating meditations, on calorie intake and mood. The relationship between trait mindful eating, mindfulness and eating behavior was also observed. A convenience sample of 45 undergraduate psychology students (M = 22.8) was randomly assigned to either a mindfulness condition, mindful eating condition or an audio book condition. Following the interventions, participants had the option of consuming pre-weighted food while answering several questionnaires. The hypothesis of the study were: 1) Mindful eating and mindfulness groups would consume less calories than the control group. The mindfulness groups would not differ; 2) Trait mindfulness and mindful eating would predict healthier eating behavior; 3) There would be a decrease in the negative affect and increase in the positive affect in the mindfulness groups from prior to post intervention, with no change in the control group. The results did not support the hypothesis. These finding suggest that mindfulness and mindful eating may not decrease calorie intake, predict healthy eating behavior and improve mood.

Author dc:creator

• Bergsveinn Ólafsson 1992-

Contributors dc:contributor

• Háskólinn í Reykjavík

• Sálfræði
• Gjörhygli
• Mataræði
• Skapgerð
• Psychology
• Mindfulness
• Eating behavior
• Mood (Psychology)

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1946/28364

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:skemman.is:1946/28364