Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on food craving in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials
Seyed Amirhossein Allameh, Zeinab Mokhtari, Elham Hosseini, Gholamreza Askari
BMC Psychology September 25, 2025 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-025-03307-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,920 |
| Population | Adult participants in controlled trials of mindfulness-based interventions for food craving |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based interventions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Meta-analysis Food craving Psychological intervention Confidence interval Clinical trial Randomized controlled trial Medline Publication bias Clinical psychology Body mass index Systematic review Certainty Subgroup analysis Food intake Placebo Physical therapy |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key findings | MBIs significantly reduced food craving intensity (Hedges' g = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.07–0.48) but not frequency (g = 0.11, 95% CI: −0.28 to 0.49). Rebound intake was significantly lower in the MBI group (g = 0.83), while overall intake reduction was non-significant (g = 0.46). Certainty of evidence was low. |
Abstract
Background: Food craving (FC) is associated with a higher body mass index (BMI) and less healthy food choices. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have garnered interest as a strategy to address maladaptive eating behaviors. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of MBIs in reducing FC.
Methods: We included controlled trials involving adult participants. A comprehensive search of Embase, MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and CENTRAL was conducted up to July 7, 2024. The Cochrane RoB2 tool was used to assess the risk of bias in included studies, and the GRADE framework was applied to evaluate the certainty of evidence. Effect sizes were calculated using Hedges’ g with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results favoring MBIs over control conditions were interpreted as statistically significant positive effects.
Results: A total of 24 studies (1920 participants) were included. FC intensity was significantly reduced in the MBI group compared to controls (Hedges’ g = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.07–0.48, p = .008, n = 23), with subgroup analysis suggesting the strongest effect for the decentering strategy. The certainty of evidence was rated as low. FC frequency did not differ significantly between the MBI and control groups (g = 0.11, 95% CI: − 0.28 to 0.49, p = .59, n = 9). The MBI group exhibited significantly lower rebound intake (i.e., food consumption following the conclusion of the restrictive phase of the study) (g = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.24–1.41, p = .006, n = 5) and a non-significant reduction in overall intake (g = 0.46, 95% CI: − 0.02 to 0.93, p = .06, n = 9) relative to controls. No adverse effects were reported.
Conclusion: Preliminary findings suggest that MBIs may be effective and safe interventions for managing FC intensity but not frequency. However, additional high-quality studies are needed to strengthen the evidence base. PROSPERO
Registration: CRD42024584334.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cites 13
- Compared to self-immersion, mindful attention reduces salivation and automatic food bias Scientific Reports October 17, 2017
- How Effective Are Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Reducing Stress and Weight? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health December 27, 2022
- Mindfulness meditation modulates stress-eating and its neural correlates. Scientific Reports March 27, 2024
- Mindfulness interventions for craving reduction in substance use disorders and behavioral addictions: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials BMC Neuroscience October 18, 2023
- The effects of an 8-week mindful eating intervention on anticipatory reward responses in striatum and midbrain Frontiers in Nutrition August 11, 2023
and 8 more in the library