Mindful eating practice was found to lead to greater weight loss than normal eating practices, according to a study by researchers from North Carolina University
Highlights
- There is a rampant practice of mindless eating which has led to increase in obesity levels with a corresponding increase in risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes
- A research team from University of North Carolina has found that practicing mindful eating promotes weight loss
- In the study, participants who followed mindful eating practices lost 1.9kg when compared to the control group that lost 0.3 kg.





The research team from The University of North Carolina developed the ESMMWL which was based on the theory that focusing on eating could help participants change unhealthy eating practices and help with weight management.
Identifying Mindful Eating Questionnaire:
Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ) was administered to the participants and involved a 28-item questionnaire which delved into 5 aspects of mindful eating. The participants were given a live class from an instructor on their mobile or computer, at the same time every week, as a part of the synchronous distance technology.
Practicing mindful eating involves
- Being attentive to feelings of hunger and satiety (fullness)
- Planning snacks and meals carefully
- Eating as a sole activity and not during other activities like watching TV
- Paying additional care to appreciate the taste of the food being eaten
- Eating just a small proportion, like one or two bites, of calorie rich foods and enjoying the flavor
Identifying the Effectiveness of ESMMWL
The study found that
- People who enrolled for the ESMMWL lost more weight(1.9kg) than participants in the control group(0.3)
The research team associated with the study stated that there was a beneficial association between weight loss and the practice of mindful eating. This is the first study that utilized stringent methodology to identify the effectiveness of mindful eating. Further research is being conducted to determine the effectiveness of mindful eating in controlling the risk for diabetes.
6 TIPS to Practice Mindful Eating
Mindful eating is more about appreciating the taste rather than loading up on calories. In mindless eating, there is constant gorging of food, ignoring the needs of the body.
Since mindful eating is found to help with weight loss, here are 6 tips to practice mindful eating
- Listen to your body
Mindful eating is a great way to not only appreciate the food that we eat but also to respect our body, and eat food that is good for the body, which could consequently lead to effective weight loss.
References:
- 6 Ways to Practice Mindful Eating - (https://www.mindful.org/6-ways-practice-mindful-eating/)
Source-Medindia