Development of a novel mindfulness and cognitive behavioral intervention for stress-eating: a comparative pilot study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a cognitive behavioral stress-eating intervention (SEI), and their combination on stress-related eating, perceived stress, and weight loss.
Results Summary
All three interventions significantly reduced perceived stress and stress-eating, with the combination intervention showing greater reductions and a moderate effect on short-term weight loss. Benefits persisted at six-week follow-up, suggesting the combination intervention may be promising for treating stress-related eating.
Population
Overweight participants (98% female) with elevated stress and stress-eating, at risk for obesity.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Six weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
modified mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention | decrease | perceived stress | overweight participants who reported elevated levels of stress and stress-eating and were at risk for obesity | - | significantly reduced | #1 |
modified mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention | decrease | stress-eating | overweight participants who reported elevated levels of stress and stress-eating and were at risk for obesity | - | significantly reduced | #2 |
cognitive behavioral stress-eating intervention (SEI) | decrease | perceived stress | overweight participants who reported elevated levels of stress and stress-eating and were at risk for obesity | - | significantly reduced | #3 |
cognitive behavioral stress-eating intervention (SEI) | decrease | stress-eating | overweight participants who reported elevated levels of stress and stress-eating and were at risk for obesity | - | significantly reduced | #4 |
combined intervention that included all MBSR and SEI components | decrease | perceived stress | overweight participants who reported elevated levels of stress and stress-eating and were at risk for obesity | - | significantly reduced | #5 |
combined intervention that included all MBSR and SEI components | decrease | stress-eating | overweight participants who reported elevated levels of stress and stress-eating and were at risk for obesity | - | significantly reduced | #6 |
combined intervention that included all MBSR and SEI components | decrease | perceived stress | overweight participants who reported elevated levels of stress and stress-eating and were at risk for obesity | - | resulted in greater reductions | #7 |
combined intervention that included all MBSR and SEI components | decrease | stress-eating | overweight participants who reported elevated levels of stress and stress-eating and were at risk for obesity | - | resulted in greater reductions | #8 |
combined intervention that included all MBSR and SEI components | decrease | short term weight loss | overweight participants who reported elevated levels of stress and stress-eating and were at risk for obesity | - | produced a moderate effect on | #9 |
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.