‘Mindful eating’ for reducing emotional eating in patients with overweight or obesity in Primary Care settings: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to analyse the efficacy of a ‘mindful eating’ program for reducing emotional eating in patients with overweight or obesity. Method: A cluster randomized controlled trial (reg. NCT03927534) was conducted with 76 participants with overweight/obesity who were assigned to ‘mindful eating’ + treatment as usual (TAU), or to TAU alone. They were assessed at baseline, posttreatment and 12-month follow-up. The main outcome was ‘emotional eating’ (Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire, DEBQ); other eating behaviours were also assessed along with psychological and physiological variables. Results: ‘Mindful eating’ + TAU reduced emotional eating both at posttreatment (B=-0.27; p=.006; d=0.35) and follow-up (B=-0.53; p< .001; d=0.69). ‘External eating’ (DEBQ) was also significantly improved by the intervention at both timepoints. Significant effects at follow-up were observed for some secondary outcomes related to bulimic behaviours, mindful eating, mindfulness, and self-compassion. Weight and other physiological parameters were not significantly affected by ‘mindful eating’ + TAU. Conclusions: These findings support the efficacy of the ‘mindful eating’ + TAU program for reducing emotional and external eating, along with some other secondary measures, but no significant changes in weight reduction were appreciated.