Keeping weight off: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction alters amygdala functional connectivity during weight loss maintenance in a randomized control trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to understand the neural and psychological mechanisms modified by mindfulness that may predict clinical outcomes in weight loss maintenance.
Results Summary
The study found increased functional connectivity between the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex in the mindfulness group, while controls showed decreased connectivity. The mindfulness group maintained their weight at 6 months, whereas controls experienced a 3.4% BMI increase, though weight changes were not statistically significant.
Population
Individuals who had recently intentionally lost weight.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
8 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | increase | functional connectivity between the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex | Individuals who intentionally recently lost weight | - | increased | #1 |
control healthy living course | decrease | functional connectivity between the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex | Individuals who intentionally recently lost weight | - | decreased | #2 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | no change | weight | Individuals who intentionally recently lost weight | - | maintained | #3 |
control healthy living course | increase | BMI | Individuals who intentionally recently lost weight | 3.4% | showed a weight increase | #4 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | neutral | depression symptoms | Individuals who intentionally recently lost weight | - | associated with change | #5 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | no change | weight | Individuals who intentionally recently lost weight | - | not associated with change | #6 |
Obesity is associated with significant comorbidities and financial costs. While behavioral interventions produce clinically meaningful weight loss, weight loss maintenance is challenging. The objective was to improve understanding of the neural and psychological mechanisms modified by mindfulness that may predict clinical outcomes. Individuals who intentionally recently lost weight were randomized to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or a control healthy living course. Anthropometric and psychological factors were measured at baseline, 8 weeks and 6 months. Functional connectivity (FC) analysis was performed at baseline and 8 weeks to examine FC changes between regions of interest selected a priori, and independent components identified by independent component analysis. The association of pre-post FC changes with 6-month weight and psychometric outcomes was then analyzed. Significant group x time interaction was found for FC between the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, such that FC increased in the MBSR group and decreased in controls. Non-significant changes in weight were observed at 6 months, where the mindfulness group maintained their weight while the controls showed a weight increase of 3.4% in BMI. Change in FC at 8-weeks between ventromedial prefrontal cortex and several ROIs was associated with change in depression symptoms but not weight at 6 months. This pilot study provides preliminary evidence of neural mechanisms that may be involved in MBSR's impact on weight loss maintenance that may be useful for designing future clinical trials and mechanistic studies.