Comparison of effectiveness of cognitive reappraisal and mindfulness based interventions in modulating body mass index (BMI), Food craving and binge eating in overweight women

The present research aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive reappraisal based and mindfulness-based interventions in modulating food craving, binge eating and losing weight in overweight women.

The current study was a quasi-experimental with a pre-and post-test design, with the control group that was performed in three groups (two experimental groups and one control group). Forty-five overweight and obese women were selected by convenient sampling. Two Experimental groups received treatment based on mindfulness-based eating awareness training (MB-EAT) and cognitive reappraisal intervention. Subjects completed food craving scale-trait (FCQ-T), and binge eating scale (BES) before and after ending of treatment/waiting. Data was analyzed using covariance analysis.

Results indicated that Mindfulness-based intervention led to significant decrease of Food craving and binge eating (P<0.01); While there was no significant difference between cognitive reappraisal and control groups (P>0.05). Also, Mindfulness-based led to significant decrease of weight loss (P<0.01); While there was no significant difference between cognitive reappraisal and control groups (P>0.05).

According to the results, it can be concluded that mindfulness-based could be an effective and permanent treatment for weight loss and modulating food craving and binge eating by increasing self-regulation capacity, cultivating awareness of internal and external cues and decreasing automatic behaviors.