Internalized weight stigma and intuitive eating among stressed adults during a mindful yoga intervention: associations with changes in mindfulness and self-compassion.
Tosca D Braun, Kristen E Riley, Zachary J Kunicki, Lucy Finkelstein-Fox, Lisa A Conboy, Crystal L Park, Elizabeth Schifano, Ana M. Abrantes, Sara W. Lazar
Health psychology and behavioral medicine November 19, 2021 DOI: 10.1080/21642850.2021.1992282 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Secondary analysis of a clinical trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 78 |
| Population | Stressed adults with low fruit and vegetable intake |
| Intervention | Mindful yoga |
| Duration | 12-week intervention, 4-month follow-up (24 weeks total) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Yoga Self-compassion Intuitive eating |
| Registration | NCT02098018 |
| Key findings | Internalized weight stigma and intuitive eating improved significantly across four timepoints during a 12-week mindful yoga intervention, and reductions in internalized weight stigma correlated with increases in intuitive eating from pre- to post-treatment. Improvements in self-compassion and mindfulness correlated with intuitive eating but not with internalized weight stigma. The authors suggest mindful yoga may promote intuitive eating and reduce internalized weight stigma, though controlled designs are needed to establish causality. |
Abstract
Purpose: Internalized weight stigma (IWS) is common in the United States of America across body weight categories, and is implicated in the development of distress and unhealthy eating behaviors (e.g. overeating, disordered eating) that can foster poor cardiometabolic health. While emerging intervention research shows early promise in reducing IWS, long-term efficacy is unclear and novel strategies remain needed. This analysis examined whether participation in a mindful yoga intervention was associated with reduced IWS and increased intuitive eating, an adaptive eating behavior, and whether these changes correlated with each other or with changes in mindfulness and self-compassion.
Methods: Participants were stressed adults with low fruit and vegetable intake (N = 78, 64.1% White, M. Body Mass Index 25.59 ± 4.45) enrolled in a parent clinical trial of a 12-week mindful yoga intervention. Validated self-report measures of IWS, intuitive eating, mindfulness, and self-compassion were administered at pre-treatment, mid-treatment (8 weeks), post-treatment (12 weeks), and 4-month follow-up (24 weeks).
Results: Linear mixed modeling revealed significant improvements in IWS and intuitive eating across the four timepoints (p < .001). Reduced IWS correlated with increased intuitive eating pre- to post-treatment (p = .01). Improved self-compassion and mindfulness correlated with intuitive eating (both p = . 04), but not IWS (p = .74 and p = .56, respectively).
Conclusion: This study offers preliminary support for the hypothesis that mindful yoga may promote intuitive eating and reduce IWS among stressed adults with poor diet, and suggests that changes in these factors may co-occur over time. Further investigation with controlled designs is necessary to better understand the temporality and causality of these relationships.Trial
Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02098018.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- The Essential Properties of Yoga Questionnaire (EPYQ): Psychometric Properties. International Journal of Yoga Therapy November 1, 2018
- A structured literature review on the role of mindfulness, mindful eating and intuitive eating in changing eating behaviours: effectiveness and associated potential mechanisms Nutrition research reviews July 18, 2017
- The relationship between yoga involvement, mindfulness and psychological well-being. Complementary Therapies in Medicine June 2016
and 2 more in the library