Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
04:48
Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System
Published on: May 8, 2018
Adding mindfulness to CBT programs for binge eating: a mixed-methods evaluation.
Hannah Woolhouse1, Ann Knowles, Naomi Crafti
1Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. hannah.woolhouse@mcri.edu.au
Eating Disorders
|June 19, 2012
Summary
This study found that combining mindfulness with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) significantly reduced binge eating, dieting concerns, and body image issues in women. These improvements were sustained at a 3-month follow-up.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Binge eating disorder is a significant concern for women's health.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a common treatment, but effectiveness can be enhanced.
- Mindfulness offers potential benefits for self-awareness and emotional regulation in eating disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effectiveness of a combined mindfulness and CBT group therapy program for women experiencing binge eating.
- To assess the impact of the program on binge eating, dieting behaviors, and body image dissatisfaction.
- To evaluate the maintenance of treatment gains at a 3-month follow-up.
Main Methods:
- An exploratory study involving a combined mindfulness-CBT group therapy program.
- Quantitative data collected via questionnaires pre-program, post-program, and at 3-month follow-up (n=30, n=30, n=28).
- Qualitative data gathered through interviews with 16 participants post-program.
Main Results:
- Significant reductions in binge eating, dieting, and body image dissatisfaction from pre- to post-program.
- Treatment gains were maintained at the 3-month follow-up.
- Qualitative interviews highlighted mindfulness's role in enhancing self-awareness and improving eating behaviors.
Conclusions:
- A combined mindfulness-CBT group therapy program is effective for women with binge eating problems.
- Mindfulness integration enhances CBT by improving self-awareness related to eating behaviors.
- This approach offers a valuable addition to existing treatments for binge eating.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Binge Eating Disorders
Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...
01:24Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) are grounded in the belief that our thoughts profoundly influence our emotions and actions. Advocates of CBT emphasize three core assumptions: first, that cognitions are identifiable and measurable; second, that they are central to psychological functioning; and third, that irrational or maladaptive beliefs can be replaced with rational and adaptive ones. This transformative approach to therapy has paved the way for specific models such as Albert Ellis's...
01:25Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
01:30Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...
01:25Beck's Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy is a psychological approach designed to address distortions in thinking, which can lead to negative emotions and unrealistic beliefs. These cognitive distortions often influence how individuals interpret and respond to situations, exacerbating emotional distress. Below are some prevalent cognitive distortions, their characteristics, and examples of how they manifest in thought processes.
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
01:22Behavior Therapy
Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...