Mindfulness and Reward-Based Eating: Examining the Role of Trait Mindfulness and a Mobile Mindfulness Intervention
Mindfulness November 1, 2025 Natalie R. Beylin, Emely Covarrubías, Matthew J. Zawadzki
Higher trait mindfulness is associated with lower reward-based eating, and an 8-week mindfulness intervention via the Headspace mobile app reduced reward-based eating and improved trait mindfulness. Among 137 participants (mean age 38, 73.7% female) randomly assigned to the app or a control group, the strongest protective link was with the lack of satiety component. Changes in mindfulness predicted changes in reward-based eating only for the Headspace group, indicating that the training drove the improvement.