| A novel approach to behavioral weight loss treatment was tested. Treatment included six weeks of mindfulness meditation training in addition to 14 weekly sessions of a traditional behavioral treatment protocol. Participants included community adults both with and without previous meditation and weight loss experience. Analyses found that the combination of mindfulness meditation training and a behavioral weight loss program significantly improved scores on subscales of the Rand Short Form Health Survey, Beck Depression Inventory, subscales of the Three Factory Eating Questionnaire, Gormally Binge Eating Scale, impact subscale of the Weekly Stress Inventory, Quality of Life Inventory, and body image dissatisfaction as measured by the Body Image Assessment for Obesity. Correlational analyses found a significant relationship between completed homework assignments and weight loss and a significant correlation between decreased binge eating behavior and frequency of meditation practice during the twenty-week program. Contrary to expectation, results did not show significant improvements in all measures of general symptomotology, nor did participants lose the expected ten percent of initial body weight currently cited in the behavioral weight loss literature. This study provides preliminary support for the use of mindfulness training in conjunction with behavior therapy for weight loss, but further examination of this treatment is necessary. Methodological modifications are suggested for further study. |
