Mindfulness-Based Eating Training for Obesity

(MB-EAT Trial)

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University Health Network, Toronto

Disqualifiers: Suicidal ideation, Psychotic disorder, Bipolar, Severe depression, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 11

Duration: 8 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if Mindfulness Based Eating Awareness Training helps individuals maintain weight loss and improve mental and physical health after bariatric surgery. Participants will attend weekly group sessions to learn mindful eating techniques. The trial will compare these participants to those on a waitlist who do not attend the sessions. Ideal candidates are those who had bariatric surgery more than six months ago and struggle to adhere to their eating guidelines. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative methods to enhance post-surgery health and well-being.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that Mindfulness Based Eating Awareness Training is safe for patients who have had bariatric surgery?

Research has shown that Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT) is generally safe. Studies have found that MB-EAT can help lower body mass index (BMI) and improve self-control in eating. In one study with Brazilian women, participants lost weight and became more mindful and compassionate towards themselves, which are important for healthy eating habits.

No reports of serious side effects from MB-EAT exist. This group therapy improves eating habits through meditation and self-awareness, making it a low-risk option for those wanting to maintain their weight and enhance mental and physical health after weight-loss surgery. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT) for obesity because it offers a fresh approach by focusing on the psychological and behavioral aspects of eating. Unlike traditional treatments that often focus on diet and exercise alone, MB-EAT emphasizes developing a mindful relationship with food, helping individuals become more aware of their hunger cues and emotional triggers. This method has the potential to promote sustainable weight management by changing eating behaviors from the inside out, which could lead to more lasting results compared to conventional methods.

What evidence suggests that Mindfulness Based Eating Awareness Training is effective for obesity?

Research has shown that Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT), which participants in this trial may receive, can help manage weight. Many studies have found that mindfulness programs reduce overeating and improve eating habits. One study found that these programs can lower food cravings, which often lead to weight gain. In another study, 86% of participants who used mindfulness techniques reported better eating habits. Overall, MB-EAT has shown promise in aiding weight loss and enhancing the mental and physical health of individuals who have undergone weight-loss surgery. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Susan Wnuk, Ph.D

Principal Investigator

University Health Network, Toronto

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking adults who had bariatric surgery at least six months ago, are struggling to follow post-surgery eating guidelines, and can attend group sessions. It's not for those with severe depression or anxiety, active suicidal thoughts, serious mental illness like psychosis or bipolar disorder, or current PTSD symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria

Fluent in English.

Post-bariatric surgery patients recruited from the Toronto Western Hospital-Bariatric Surgery Program (TWH-BSP) who are six months or more post-surgery, are experiencing self-reported difficulties adhering to post-surgery eating guidelines, and can commit to attending the group.

Have the capacity to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

Active suicidal ideation.

Active serious mental illness (i.e., psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder).

Active severe depression (i.e., current major depressive disorder diagnosis and PHQ-9 score > 20 [severe depression]).

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Introductory Session

Participants receive an introductory information session about the MB-EAT program

1 session

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants undergo 8 weekly MB-EAT sessions, each lasting 2 hours, focusing on mindfulness to improve eating habits

8 weeks

8 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in eating problems, depression, anxiety, and mindfulness at 6 and 12 months post-intervention

12 months

2 visits (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Mindfulness Based Eating Awareness Training

Trial Overview The study tests if Mindfulness Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT) helps maintain weight loss and improves mental and physical health in post-bariatric surgery patients compared to those who don't receive this training.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: MB-EAT Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Behavioral: group psychotherapy. Eight weekly sessions, each session is 2 hours in duration.

Group II: Waitlist Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Wait list control.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University Health Network, Toronto

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,555

Recruited

526,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 63 treatment-seeking adults with overweight/obesity, specific mindfulness facets were found to correlate with emotional eating behaviors, indicating that mindfulness can play a role in managing emotional eating.

Higher levels of 'describe' mindfulness were linked to lower emotional eating related to anger and anxiety, while 'non-reactive' and 'non-judgment' mindfulness were associated with reduced emotional eating due to depression, suggesting that mindfulness training could be beneficial in addressing different emotional triggers for eating.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness facets differentially relate to self-reported negative and positive emotional eating types in treatment-seeking adults with overweight/obesity. Barnhart, WR., Kalantzis, MA., Braden, AL.[2023]

Mindfulness-based eating awareness training (MB-EAT) is an effective group intervention for treating binge eating disorder (BED), focusing on mindfulness practices to help individuals manage emotional and behavioral responses related to food.

Current research indicates that MB-EAT can significantly reduce binge eating episodes, enhance self-control over eating, and alleviate depressive symptoms, addressing the core issues associated with BED.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-based eating awareness training for treating binge eating disorder: the conceptual foundation. Kristeller, JL., Wolever, RQ.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11329387/

Mindfulness-based eating awareness training versus itself ... The MB-EAT effectiveness trial is theory-based, reducing weight and the psychological and behavioral consequences of overweight and obese adults ...

2. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1101120/full

Comparative efficacy of remotely delivered mindfulness ... The results suggest that dysregulated eating and weight loss intervention delivered remotely via teleconference can be effective.

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666322002227

Comparative effectiveness of mindfulness and ... We compared the effectiveness of a 10-week mindful eating programme with that of a 10-week mindfulness programme and of a no-treatment control group.

4. trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-025-08900-z

Effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention + standard ... Up to 11% of excess food consumption and the resulting overweight have been attributed to food cravings. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4046117/

Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Obesity-Related ... Eighteen (86%) of the reviewed studies reported improvements in the targeted eating behaviors. Overall, the results of this first review on the topic support ...

6. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-obesity-morbid-2-2017-c1cc7

Mindfulness-Based Eating Training for Obesity (MB- ... In a study with Brazilian women, participants lost an average of 1.9 kg and showed improvements in mindfulness and self-compassion, which are important for ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195666321006322

Mindfulness-based programs for the prevention of ... Mindfulness programs applied to improve eating behaviors appear to be an effective alternative to prevent childhood obesity.

8. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/303694819_Impact_of_Mindfulness-Based_Eating_Awareness_on_Diet_and_Exercise_Habits_in_Adolescents

Impact of Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness on Diet ... that uses focused meditation techniques to help obese individuals normalize eating behaviors, and improve exercise and dietary habits.