Effects of a mindfulness-based weight loss intervention in adults with obesity: A randomized clinical trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine if adding mindfulness-based eating and stress management practices to a diet-exercise program improves weight loss and metabolic syndrome components in adults with obesity.
Results Summary
The study found that mindfulness training did not significantly improve weight loss but showed potential long-term benefits for some metabolic health markers, such as fasting glucose and triglyceride/HDL ratio, though results were mixed and not always statistically significant.
Population
194 adults with obesity
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
5.5-month program with 18-month follow-up
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness-based eating and stress management practices added to a diet-exercise program | decrease | weight loss | 194 adults with obesity | -1.9 kg | favored the mindfulness arm in weight loss at 12 months | #1 |
mindfulness-based eating and stress management practices added to a diet-exercise program | decrease | weight loss | 194 adults with obesity | -1.7 kg | favored the mindfulness arm in weight loss at 18 months | #2 |
mindfulness-based eating and stress management practices added to a diet-exercise program | decrease | fasting glucose | 194 adults with obesity | -3.1 mg/dl | favored the mindfulness arm in changes in fasting glucose at 12 months | #3 |
mindfulness-based eating and stress management practices added to a diet-exercise program | decrease | fasting glucose | 194 adults with obesity | -4.1 mg/dl | favored the mindfulness arm in changes in fasting glucose at 18 months | #4 |
mindfulness-based eating and stress management practices added to a diet-exercise program | decrease | triglyceride/HDL ratio | 194 adults with obesity | -0.57 | favored the mindfulness arm in changes in triglyceride/HDL ratio at 12 months | #5 |
mindfulness-based eating and stress management practices added to a diet-exercise program | decrease | triglyceride/HDL ratio | 194 adults with obesity | -0.36 | favored the mindfulness arm in changes in triglyceride/HDL ratio at 18 months | #6 |
mindfulness-based eating and stress management practices added to a diet-exercise program | no change | weight loss | adults with obesity | - | did not show substantial weight loss benefit | #7 |
mindfulness-based eating and stress management practices added to a diet-exercise program | increase | some aspects of metabolic health | adults with obesity | - | may promote long-term improvement in some aspects of metabolic health | #8 |
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether adding mindfulness-based eating and stress management practices to a diet-exercise program improves weight loss and metabolic syndrome components. METHODS: In this study 194 adults with obesity were randomized to a 5.5-month program with or without mindfulness training and identical diet-exercise guidelines. Intention-to-treat analyses with multiple imputation were used for missing data. The primary outcome was 18-month weight change. RESULTS: Estimated effects comparing the mindfulness to control arm favored the mindfulness arm in (a) weight loss at 12 months, -1.9 kg (95% CI: -4.5, 0.8; P = 0.17), and 18 months, -1.7 kg (95% CI: -4.7, 1.2; P = 0.24), though not statistically significant; (b) changes in fasting glucose at 12 months, -3.1 mg/dl (95% CI: -6.3, 0.1; P = 0.06), and 18 months, -4.1 mg/dl (95% CI: -7.3, -0.9; P = 0.01); and (c) changes in triglyceride/HDL ratio at 12 months, -0.57 (95% CI: -0.95, -0.18; P = 0.004), and 18 months, -0.36 (95% CI: -0.74, 0.03; P = 0.07). Estimates for other metabolic risk factors were not statistically significant, including waist circumference, blood pressure, and C-reactive protein. CONCLUSIONS: Mindfulness enhancements to a diet-exercise program did not show substantial weight loss benefit but may promote long-term improvement in some aspects of metabolic health in obesity that requires further study.