Meditation, Stress, Eating Behavior and Obesity: A Literature Review - Meditação, Estresse, Comportamento Alimentar e Obesidade: Uma revisão da literatura
Cynthia Vieira Sanches Sampaio, Ana Marice Teixeira Ladeia
REVISTA LATINO-AMERICANA DE PSICOLOGIA CORPORAL November 30, 2022 DOI: 10.14295/rlapc.v9i13.137 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Literature review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Overweight and obese populations |
| Intervention | meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The review of 20 studies indicates that meditation reduced stress and promoted positive changes in eating behavior that help individuals lose weight, but the evidence on weight outcomes remains inconclusive, and the authors call for further research. |
Abstract
Resumo: Chronic stress may change eating behavior and thus play a role in the development of obesity. Recent research targeting obesity prevention has evaluated meditation as a resource for regulating emotion. In this literature review, 20 studies conducted in the last decade, concerning the topics of overweight and obese population that used different types of meditation were examined. These articles were focused on changes in weight, eating behavior and psychological factors. The results showed that meditation reduced stress and promoted positive changes in eating behavior that help the individual to lose weight. However, the body of evidence as regards the effect on weight are still not conclusive and further research is necessary.Keywords: Eating Behavior. HPA axis. Stress. Meditation. Obesity. Resumo: O estresse crônico pode alterar o comportamento alimentar e, assim, desempenhar um papel no desenvolvimento da obesidade. Pesquisas recentes voltadas para a prevenção da obesidade avaliaram a meditação como um recurso para regular a emoção. Nesta revisão de literatura, foram examinados 20 estudos realizados na última década, sobre os temas da população com sobrepeso e obesidade que utilizaram diferentes tipos de meditação. Esses artigos foram focados em mudanças de peso, comportamento alimentar e fatores psicológicos. Os resultados mostraram que a meditação reduziu o estresse e promoveu mudanças positivas no comportamento alimentar que ajudam o indivíduo a perder peso. No entanto, o corpo de evidências em relação ao efeito sobre o peso ainda não é conclusivo e mais pesquisas são necessárias. Palavras-chave: Comportamento Alimentar. eixo HPA. Estresse. Meditação. Obesidade.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 9
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Effect of mindfulness meditation on short-term weight loss and eating behaviors in overweight and obese adults: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine December 5, 2017
- Meditation and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Journal of the American Heart Association September 28, 2017
- A mindfulness-based intervention to control weight after bariatric surgery: Preliminary results from a randomized controlled pilot trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine July 12, 2016
- Effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on mindful eating, sweets consumption, and fasting glucose levels in obese adults: data from the SHINE randomized controlled trial. Journal of Behavioral Medicine November 12, 2015
and 4 more in the library