Therapists have begun investigating the utility of “mindfulness” in treating a number of clinical disorders (Kabat-Zinn et al., 1998; Linehan et al., 1999; Shapiro et al., 2003; Teasdale et al., 2001), particularly its effectiveness as a component of eating disorder treatments (Marcus & McCabe, 2002; Safer et al., 2003; Safer, Telch & Agras, 2001; Wiser & Telch, 1999).

Mindfulness is an Eastern/Buddhist meditation concept that provides helpful skills for altering problematic eating and body image issues. It is a positive approach to gaining insight, control over unhealthy eating habits and accepting your body and self “in-the-moment.”

Eating Mindfully integrates Buddhist skills with traditional cognitive behavioral techniques in a language intended to minimizing defensiveness and maximizing self efficacy. Useful approach for support groups and/or adjunct to therapy.

Extensive List of Mindfulness Readings, Articles & Research

Mindfulness Research Link

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness & Eating References

Kristeller, J. L., & Hallett, C.B. (1999). An exploratory study of meditation-based intervention for binge eating disorder. Journal of Health Psychology, 4, 357–363.

Levine, M. & Marcus, M. (2003). Psychosocial Treatments of Binge Eating Disorder: An Update. Article in Eating Disorders Review. July/August Vol. 14/NO.4

McCabe EB, La Via MC, Marcus MD. Dialectical behavior therapy for eating disorders. In JK Thompson, ed. Handbook of Eating Disorders and Obesity. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., in press.

Palmer RL, Birchall H, Damani S, Gatward N, McGrain L, Parker L. (2003). A dialectical behavior therapy program for people with an eating disorder and borderline personality disorder-description and outcome. Int J Eat Disord. 33(3):281-6.

Safer DL, Telch CF, Agras WS. (2001). Dialectical behavior therapy for bulimia nervosa. Am J Psychiatry. Apr;158(4):632-4.

Safer DL, Telch CF, Agras WS (2001). Dialectical behavior therapy for bulimia nervosa: a case study. Int J Eat Disord; 30:101-106.

Telch CF: Skills training treatment for adaptive affect regulation in a woman with binge-eating disorder. Int J Eat Disord 1997a; 22:77-81.

Telch CF: Emotion Regulation Skills Training Treatment for Binge Eating Disorder: Therapist Manual. 1997b. Unpublished manuscript

Telch CF, Agras WS, Linehan MM: Group Dialectical Behavior Therapy for binge-eating disorder:  A preliminary, uncontrolled trial. Behavior Therapy 2000; 31:569-582.

Telch CF, Agras WS, Linehan MM: Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Binge Eating Disorder. J Consult Clin Psychol 2001; 69: 1061-1065. Wiser S, Telch C (1999): Dialectical behavior therapy for binge-eating disorder. J Clin Psychol 1999; 55:755 - 768.

Wisniewski, L, & Kelly, E. (2003).  Can DBT be used to effectively treat eating disorders? Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 10, 131-138.

Uses for the Eating Mindfully Approach:

• Useful for presentations and outreach to groups (women’s groups, sororities/fraternities, organizations).
• Assisting disordered eating patterns and body image issues
• Book Group/Club Discussion.
• Adjunct to individual therapy. Therapist & client choose exercises and discuss.

Eating Mindfully Support Group

Use this book, Eating Mindfully, as a launching point for a discussion/disordered eating support groups/book club. Read chapters. Discuss response to exercises. Just for support groups-NOT a treatment/therapy.

Benefits to Eating Mindfully Approach:

1. Non-diet approach
2. Intended to reduce client defensiveness
3. Realistic and doable exercises
4. Advocates self and body acceptance
5. Takes a long term stance to making changes
6. Non-judgmental and compassionate
7. Examines all dimensions of eating (mind, body, thoughts, feelings)

Types of Mindless Eating:

Mindless Dieter - Chronic dieter/fad dieting. Critical of self, restricts, certain foods induce guilt.

Mindless Over Eater - Primarily eats out of emotion rather than physical hunger, mindlessly snacks, multitasks when eats, difficulty with portion size. Hard to identify true hunger.

Mindless Under Eater - Food restrictor, skips meals, ignores body and nutritional needs, judgmental of self, neglects/denies self of joy of eating.

Mindless Chaotic Eater - Find ways to purge food after perceived mindless eating, anxious/uncomfortable with body and positive/negative feelings.

Mindfulness References and Research:

Baer, R. (2003). Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10 (2), 125–143.

Davidson, R., et al. (2003). Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 564–570.

Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990) Full Catastrophe Living: using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness. New York, Dell Publishing

Kabat-Zinn, J., Lipworth, L., Burney, R., and Sellers, W. (1986) Four-year follow-up of a meditation-based stress reduction program for the self-regulation of chronic pain: treatment outcomes and compliance. Clinical Journal of Pain, 2, 159-173

Kabat-Zinn, J., Massion, A.O., Kristeller, J., et al. (1992) Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 936-943

Kabat-Zinn, J., Wheeler, E., Light, T., et al. (1998) Influence of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention on rates of skin clearing in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis undergoing phototherapy (UVB) and photochemotherapy (PUVA). Psychosomatic Medicine, 60, 625-32

Linehan, M.M., Schmidt, H., Craft, J.C., Kanter, J., & Comtois, K.A. (1999). Dialectical behaviour therapy for patients with borderline personality disorder and drug dependence. American Journal of Addictions, 8, 279-292.

Ma, S.H., & Teasdale, J.D. (2002). Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Submitted for publication.

Miller, John J; Fletcher, Ken; Kabat-Zinn, Jon. (1995). Three-year follow-up and clinical implications of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention in the treatment of anxiety disorders. General Hospital Psychiatry. 17(3), 192-200

Reibel, Diane; Greeson, Jeffrey; Brainard, George; Rosenzweig, Steven. (2001). Mindfulness-based stress reduction and health-related quality of life in a heterogeneous patient population. General Hospital Psychiatry. 23, 183-192.

Safer, D. L., Telch, C.F., & Agras, W.S. (2001a). Dialectial behavior therapy for bulimia nervosa. American Journal of Psychiatry, 158, 632-634.

Safer, D. L., Telch, C.F., & Agras, W.S. (2001b). Dialectical behavior therapy adapted for bulimia: A case report. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 30, 101-106.

Safter, D. L., Lively, T., Telch, C., & Agras, W. S (2003). Predictors of Relapse Following Successful Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Binge Eating Disorder

Segal, Z.V., Williams, J.M.G. and Teasdale, J.D. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A new approach to preventing relapse. New York, Guilford Press

Shapiro, Shauna L; Bootzin, Richard R; Figueredo, Aurelio J; Lopez, Ana Maria; Schwartz, Gary E (2003). The efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction in the treatment of sleep disturbance in women with breast cancer: An exploratory study. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 54, 85-91

Tacon, Anna M; McComb, Jacalyn; Caldera, Yvonne; Randolph, Patrick. (2003). Mindfulness meditation, anxiety reduction, and heart disease: A pilot study. Family & Community Health. 26, 25-33.

Teasdale, J.D., Segal, Z.V., Williams, J.M.G., et al. (2000) Prevention of Relapse/Recurrence in Major Depression by Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68, 615-623

Weissbecker, Inka; Salmon, Paul; Studts, Jamie L; Floyd, Andrea R; Dedert, Eric A; Sephton, Sandra E. (2002). Mindfulness-based stress reduction and sense of coherence among women with fibromyalgia. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings. 9, 297-307.

Wiser, S., & Telch, C.F. (1999). Dialectical behavior therapy for binge eating disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 55, 755-768.