Objective: To evaluate the effect of healing meditation on weight loss and waist circumference for women undergoing a standard weight loss treatment. Design: We conducted a randomized, parallel-controlled, blinded clinical trial. Randomization was stratified by body mass index category and based on blocks of four. Setting: An outpatient clinic in Brazil. Subjects: Women with overweight and obesity. Intervention: For 8 weeks, in addition to the standard weight loss treatment, the intervention group underwent a healing meditation program, and the control group participated in a two round table just to observe the treatment compliance. Outcome measures: The primary outcome was the percentage of weight loss, blindly assessed regarding the allocation group. Results: Of 121 women interested in participating in the study, 55 were included and randomized, 27 for the intervention group and 28 for the control group. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. After 8 weeks, the intervention group had the highest relative reduction to initial body weight (-2.9% [interquartile range {IQR} -4.4 to -1.6] vs. -0.7% [IQR -1.1 to -5.0], p < 0.001). Waist circumference outcome was also significantly reduced in the intervention group (5 cm [IQR -6.0 to 4.0] vs. -1 cm [IQR -2.0 to 0.0], p < 0.001). The result of the intervention group was maintained until the 16th week. Between 8th and 16th week, the control group underwent meditation and presented significant weight reduction (-1.95 kg [IQR -3.2 to -1.1], p < 0.001 and -2.3% [IQR -4.1 to -1.3], p < 0.001), showing similar effect to the intervention group (p = 0.428). Conclusion: The addition of healing meditation to the standard weight loss treatment may reduce weight and waist circumference over a short period in overweight or obese women.
Keywords: healing; meditation; obesity; randomized blinded clinical trial; weight loss.