Roles
Linda R. Donatoni: Class of 2010
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2014
Department 1
Psychology
Abstract
Obesity and excess weight are significant societal problems. Mindfulness may encourage healthier weight and eating habits. Across four studies, we found a positive relation between mindfulness and healthier eating. Trait mindfulness was associated with less impulsive eating, reduced calorie consumption, and healthier snack choices. In addition, we found a causal effect of mindfulness on healthier eating. An experimental manipulation of state mindfulness led participants to consume fewer calories in a spontaneous eating task. We also found preliminary evidence that mindfulness affects eating behavior by encouraging attitudinal preferences for healthier foods. Taken together, these results provide strong evidence that mindfulness encourages healthier eating, even in the absence of specific instruction in mindful eating. These results suggest that generic mindfulness-based strategies could have ancillary benefits for encouraging healthier eating behavior.
Copyright Note
This is the author's version of the work. This publication appears in Gettysburg College's institutional repository by permission of the copyright owner for personal use, not for redistribution.
DOI
10.1016/j.paid.2014.04.013
Recommended Citation
Jordan, C. H., Wang, W., Donatoni, L, and Meier, B. P. Mindful eating: Trait and state mindfulness predict healthier eating behavior. Personality and Individual Differences 68.1 (October 2014), 107-111.
Required Publisher's Statement
Original version will be available from the publisher at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886914002396