A mindful eating group intervention for obese women: a mixed methods feasibility study

Lori I Kidd1, Christine Heifner Graor, Carolyn J Murrock

  • 1School of Nursing, The University of Akron, Akron, OH.

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to: 1) describe the effect of an 8-week mindful eating intervention on mindful eating, weight loss self-efficacy, depression, and biomarkers of weight in urban, underserved, obese women; and 2) identify themes of the lived experience of mindful eating. A convenience sample of 12 obese women was recruited with data collected at baseline and 8 weeks followed by a focus group. Only self-efficacy for weight loss significantly increased over 8 weeks (t=-2.63, P=.04). Qualitative findings of mindful eating supported quantitative findings and extended understanding about the effect of the intervention.