Effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on mindful eating, sweets consumption, and fasting glucose levels in obese adults: data from the SHINE randomized controlled trial

Abstract

We evaluated changes in mindful eating as a potential mechanism underlying the effects of a mindfulness-based intervention for weight loss on eating of sweet foods and fasting glucose levels. We randomized 194 obese individuals (M age = 47.0 ± 12.7 years; BMI = 35.5 ± 3.6; 78% women) to a 5.5-month diet-exercise program with or without mindfulness training. The mindfulness group, relative to the active control group, evidenced increases in mindful eating and maintenance of fasting glucose from baseline to 12-month assessment. Increases in mindful eating were associated with decreased eating of sweets and fasting glucose levels among mindfulness group participants, but this association was not statistically significant among active control group participants. Twelve-month increases in mindful eating partially mediated the effect of intervention arm on changes in fasting glucose levels from baseline to 12-month assessment. Increases in mindful eating may contribute to the effects of mindfulness-based weight loss interventions on eating of sweets and fasting glucose levels.

Keywords: Fasting glucose; Mindful eating; Mindfulness intervention; Obese adults; Sweet foods.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest Ashley E. Mason, Elissa S. Epel, Patricia J. Moran, Mary Dallman, Robert H. Lustig, Michael Acree, Peter Bacchetti, Barbara A. Laraia, Frederick M. Hecht, and Jennifer Daubenmier declare that they have no conflicts of interest. Jean Kristeller participated in a paid webinar on ‘mindful snacking’ for Allidura Consumer.

Figures

Fig. 1

Recruitment, randomization, and follow-up of participants in the Supporting Health by Integrating Nutrition and Exercise (SHINE) randomized controlled trial

Fig. 2

Effects of intervention group assignment on change in mindful eating, eating of sweets, and fasting glucose across three measurement timepoints. Note *p < 0.05; ˆp < 0.10. Symbols reflect statistical differences across groups per ANCOVA results. Error bars are standard errors of the mean

Fig. 3

Changes in mindful eating as a predictor of changes in % Kcal from sweets and desserts and fasting blood glucose. Note *p ≤ 0.05; ˆp = 0.108. Δ indicates change from baseline to 6 or 12 months (6 months—baseline; 12 months—baseline). Lines depict unstandardized regression parameters presented in Table 3. Δ Mindful Eating values fall within variable range for Δ Mindful Eating for both groups (Mindful Group and Active Control group)

Fig. 4

Change in mindful eating from baseline to 12 months mediates association between group assignment and change in fasting glucose from baseline to 12 months. Note *p ≤ 0.05. Δ indicates change from baseline to 12 months (12 months—baseline). Covariates include fasting glucose and mindful eating at baseline. Data are presented as [unstandardized b (SE)]. Point estimate of mediated effect, [b = −0.38, SE(b) = 0.25], bias-corrected and accelerated 95 % CI (−1.09, −0.03)