Mindfulness and Sustainable Food Choices.

March 31, 2026 updated by: University of Turin, Italy

MindFOODness: Exploring the Impact of Mindfulness on Sustainable Food Choices. A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

The goal of this randomized controlled clinical trial is to determine whether a mindfulness-based intervention, in addition to nutritional education, improves healthy and sustainable eating habits in 53 young adults aged 18 to 35 years with low adherence to a sustainable diet.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
50

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Italy
    • Torino
      • Torino, Torino, Italy, 10126
        • University of Torino

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 18 to 35 years;
  • Low adherence to a sustainable diet, defined as a MedQ-Sus score ≤ 3.0;
  • Body mass index (BMI) between 18.0 and 29.9 kg/m²;
  • Able to provide written informed consent;
  • Generally healthy volunteers;
  • Omnivorous diet;
  • No current or past history of eating disorders;
  • Not pregnant and not planning pregnancy during the study period;
  • Personally responsible for making food-related decisions.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • MedQ-Sus score ≥ 3.1;
  • BMI < 18.0 or > 29.9 kg/m²;
  • Unable to provide informed consent;
  • Dietary restrictions;
  • Allergy or intolerance to the tested food.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Mindfulness + Nutritional Education
Participants in the experimental group will attend two 1-hour online nutritional education sessions delivered over two consecutive weeks. In addition, they will participate in a structured online mindfulness program consisting of four 2-hour sessions delivered once weekly for four weeks. Dietary habits, anthropometric measures, and psychological variables will be assessed at baseline and upon completion of the intervention.
Behavioral: Mindfulness-based Intervention
The mindfulness-based intervention consists of a structured online program delivered over four weeks. Participants attend four 2-hour group sessions conducted once weekly. The program includes guided mindfulness practices, experiential exercises, and group discussions aimed at increasing awareness of eating behaviors, emotional triggers, and food-related decision-making.
Other: Nutritional Education
The nutritional education intervention consists of two 1-hour online sessions delivered over two separate weeks. The sessions are based on the EAT-Lancet dietary recommendations for healthy and sustainable eating and provide evidence-based guidance on food choices and dietary patterns consistent with environmental sustainability and health promotion
Other: Nutritional Education
Participants in the control group will attend two 1-hour online nutritional education sessions delivered over two separate weeks. The sessions are based on the EAT-Lancet dietary recommendations for healthy and sustainable eating. Dietary habits, anthropometric measures, and psychological variables will be assessed at baseline and upon completion of the intervention.
Other: Nutritional Education
The nutritional education intervention consists of two 1-hour online sessions delivered over two separate weeks. The sessions are based on the EAT-Lancet dietary recommendations for healthy and sustainable eating and provide evidence-based guidance on food choices and dietary patterns consistent with environmental sustainability and health promotion

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in adherence to the EAT-Lancet Diet
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in adherence to a healthy and sustainable dietary pattern, assessed using the EAT-Lancet Index. The index ranges from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating greater adherence to the EAT-Lancet dietary recommendations. The total score is derived from 14 dietary components, each scored from 0 to 3. Adherence categories are defined as follows: ≤13 (low adherence), 14-16, 17-19, 20-22, and ≥23 (high adherence).
Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in MedQ-Sus score
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in Sustainable diet adherence assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Sustainability (MedQ-Sus; range: 0-8), with higher scores indicating greater adherence to a sustainable diet.
Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in body weight and body mass index (BMI)
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in body weight measured in kilograms (kg) and in BMI calculated as weight (kg)/height (m²)
Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in Mindfulness
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in mindfulness (awareness) assessed using the Awareness subscale of the Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale. Scores range from 10 to 50, with higher scores indicating greater awareness of the present momen.
Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in mindful eating behaviors
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in mindful eating (awareness) assessed using the awareness subscale of the Mindful Eating Questionnaire. Mean scores range from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater awareness of how food affects sensory experiences and internal states.
Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in Psychological distress
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in depression symptoms assessed using the depression subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). Scores range from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity.
Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in sleep quality
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in sleep quality assessed using the Mini Sleep Questionnaire. Total scores range from 10 to 70, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality.
Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in Mindfulness
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in Mindfulness (acceptance) assessed using the Acceptance subscale of the Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale. Scores range from 10 to 50, with higher scores indicating greater acceptance (non-judgmental attitude toward experience).
Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in Mindfulness
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in mindful eating (recognition) assessed using the recognition subscale of the Mindful Eating Questionnaire. Mean scores range from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater ability to recognize hunger, satiety, and cues that lead to eating beyond physiological needs.
Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in Psychological distress
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in anxiety symptoms assessed using the Anxiety subscale of the DASS-21. Scores range from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity.
Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in Psychological distress
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions
Change in stress symptoms assessed using the stress subscale of the DASS-21. Scores range from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity.
Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the end of the nutritional education sessions

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Turin, Italy

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 14, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 11, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 11, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 23, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 31, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 31, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • MindFood

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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