An Exploratory Study of a Meditation-Based Intervention for Binge Eating Disorder
Feb 27th, 2009 by admin
Jean L. Kristeller and C. Brendan Hallett
Dept. of Psychology
Indiana State University
Journal of Health Psychology. (1999). Vol 4 (3). 357-363.
This study investigated the efficacy of a meditation-based intervention for Binge Eating Disorder (BED). The intervention employed standard and eating-specific mindfulness meditation exercises as the core part of a six-week group treatment. Eighteen obese (BMI > 27) women, ages 25 to 62, who met DSM-IV criteria for BED, participated. A single-group extended baseline design was used, with full assessment at three weeks prior, at the start and end of the six week treatment, and at three weeks follow-up, with briefer assessments weekly.
Reported binges decreased from 4.02 per week before treatment to 1.57 per week following treatment (t(18)=6.37, p<.001); the proportion of binges rated as “large” decreased from 70.3% before treatment to 18.11% following treatment. The Binge Eating Scale (BES) (Gormally et al., 1982) decreased from 31.69 to 15.08 following treatment (t(17)=9.86, p<.001). Number of binges and BES scores remained stable from the end of the intervention to the three-week follow-up. Ratings of control over eating, mindfulness, and awareness of hunger and satiety cues rose significantly; depression and anxiety decreased. Use of eating-related meditations outside of group was related to decreases in the BES (r=.66, p<.01).
Results suggest that meditation and mindfulness training may be effective components in decreasing both frequency and severity of binge eating episodes in persons with BED.
for link to full pdf, go to http://www.tcme.org/published_professional.htm