City, University of London, Department of Psychology, Whiskin Street, London, EC1R 0JD, UK.
University of Liverpool, Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, Liverpool, L69 7ZA, UK.
Appetite. 2024 Jan 1;192:107131. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.107131. Epub 2023 Nov 19.
In some studies mindfulness is associated with reduced food consumption, but the underlying mechanisms are less well researched. One potential mechanism is that mindfulness increases attention toward feelings of fullness. Additionally, experimental research on mindfulness and food intake has primarily been conducted in constrained laboratory settings, where it may be easier for participants to notice their internal bodily signals, as opposed to the real world where individuals are often engaged in other activities while eating. The effect of mindfulness on food intake while participants are distracted remains unexplored. This study therefore aimed to examine whether a mindfulness-based body scan exercise reduced food consumption within a distracted environment by increasing attention toward feelings of fullness. Participants (n = 137) listened to a 10-minute body scan meditation, or a 10-minute visualisation (control) meditation. They were then given a bowl of crisps to consume while watching a 10-minute TV show segment. Participants also completed measures assessing proposed mediators, including state mindfulness, attention to bodily sensations and eating automaticity. The body scan manipulation increased state mindfulness but had no direct effect on the other mediators or on food intake (intervention M = 34.79g, SD = 24.06; control M = 33.16g, SD = 23.88). State mindfulness was positively correlated with attention to bodily sensations while eating. Lower eating automaticity and greater reliance on decreased food appeal and physical satisfaction to stop eating were found to be associated with lower food intake. Contrary to previous studies, we found no evidence that a mindfulness body scan reduces food consumption when participants are distracted. Future research should examine the specific conditions under and mechanisms by which mindfulness may influence food consumption.
在一些研究中，正念与减少食物摄入量有关，但潜在机制研究得还不够充分。一种潜在的机制是，正念会增加对饱腹感的关注。此外，关于正念和食物摄入的实验研究主要是在受限制的实验室环境中进行的，在这种环境中，参与者可能更容易注意到自己的内部身体信号，而不是在现实世界中，人们在吃饭时通常会参与其他活动。正念对参与者分心时的食物摄入量的影响仍未得到探索。因此，本研究旨在检验在分心的环境中，通过增加对饱腹感的关注，基于正念的身体扫描练习是否会减少食物摄入量。参与者（n=137）听了 10 分钟的身体扫描冥想，或 10 分钟的可视化（对照）冥想。然后，他们在观看 10 分钟的电视节目片段时，被给予一碗薯片来吃。参与者还完成了评估拟议中介因素的测量，包括状态正念、对身体感觉的注意力和进食自动性。身体扫描操作增加了状态正念，但对其他中介因素或食物摄入量没有直接影响（干预组 M=34.79g，SD=24.06；对照组 M=33.16g，SD=23.88）。状态正念与进食时对身体感觉的注意力呈正相关。较低的进食自动性和更多地依赖于减少食物吸引力和身体满足感来停止进食与较低的食物摄入量有关。与之前的研究相反，我们没有发现证据表明，当参与者分心时，正念身体扫描会减少食物摄入量。未来的研究应该研究在特定条件下和正念可能影响食物摄入的机制。
