Integrating Mindfulness Into Eating Behaviors

Meredith D Sorensen; Katherine R Arlinghaus; Tracey A Ledoux; Craig A Johnston

doi:10.1177/1559827619867626

Integrating Mindfulness Into Eating Behaviors

Am J Lifestyle Med. 2019 Aug 15;13(6):537-539. doi: 10.1177/1559827619867626. eCollection 2019 Nov-Dec.

Authors

Meredith D Sorensen^{1

2}, Katherine R Arlinghaus^{1

2}, Tracey A Ledoux^{1

2}, Craig A Johnston^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ University of Houston, Texas (MDS, KRA, TAL).
² Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, Texas (CAJ).

Abstract

Food choices and eating behaviors are influenced by a wide variety of factors. However, traditional dietary advice primarily addresses health-related reasons for eating. Lifestyle medicine outcomes may be improved by helping individuals become more aware of why they eat and support individuals to increase their skills in reconciling eating for health and nonhealth purposes. Intuitive eating aims to increase individuals' awareness of why, what, and how much they eat through mindfulness. This framework and concepts such as flexible restraint can be used to teach individuals skills that may help them improve psychological well-being and manage their weight.

Keywords: flexible restraint; food choice; intuitive eating; mindfulness.

Publication types

Review