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

85 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of Mindfulness Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT) for patients who have had bariatric surgery on their weight and mental and physical health compared to patients who do not do this group. All participants will complete questionnaires evaluating eating and mental health before and after the group and 6 and 12 months later. They will have blood pressure readings at these times and complete a questionnaire about their digestive health. Our hypothesis is that participants will maintain their weight loss after bariatric surgery and have improvements in the other outcomes.

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.

Is Mindfulness-Based Eating Training safe for humans?

Mindfulness-Based Eating Training (MB-EAT) has been used in various studies with no reported safety concerns, suggesting it is generally safe for humans. Participants have shown improvements in eating behaviors and self-awareness without adverse effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is Mindfulness-Based Eating Training different from other obesity treatments?

Mindfulness-Based Eating Training is unique because it focuses on increasing awareness and self-compassion during eating, helping individuals recognize and change automatic eating behaviors and emotional responses. Unlike traditional diets, it emphasizes mindful attention to the body's signals and emotions, promoting long-term behavioral changes rather than short-term weight loss. ^{1 2 4 5 6}

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training for obesity?

Research shows that Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT) can help with weight loss and improve eating behaviors. 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 managing eating habits. ^{2 5 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. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindful eating for overweight and obese women in Brazil: An exploratory mixed-methods pilot study. [2022]

2. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Mindful body awareness]. [2015]

3. Germany 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. [2023]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-based interventions for obesity-related eating behaviours: a literature review. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparative effectiveness of mindfulness and mindful eating programmes among low-income overweight women in primary health care: A randomised controlled pragmatic study with psychological, biochemical, and anthropometric outcomes. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Eight-Week Mindful Eating Program Applied in a Mediterranean Population With Overweight or Obesity: The EATT Intervention Study. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-based eating awareness training for treating binge eating disorder: the conceptual foundation. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness on Diet and Exercise Habits in Adolescents. [2023]