Mindfulness-Based Eating Solution (MBES) for Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating Attitudes in Nutrition Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomised Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background

Nutrition students are at greater risk of developing disordered eating attitudes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have proven to be beneficial in improving mental health outcomes and are also applied to issues related to food through mindful eating. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of a MBI on levels of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating attitudes among nutrition students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

This randomised clinical trial performed the ‘Mindfulness-Based Eating Solution’ (MBES) intervention in nutrition students. Seventy-eight adult women were randomised into the intervention group (n = 38) and control group (n = 40). The intervention group received eleven weekly sessions of MBES and two follow-up sessions. Body dissatisfaction and appreciation, disordered eating attitudes, intuitive eating and mindfulness were assessed four times (at baseline, post-intervention, 1-month follow-up and 3-month follow-up).

Results

The intervention group showed decreased levels of body dissatisfaction (from 86.60 ± 6.13 to 64.13 ± 2.82) and disordered eating attitudes (from 1.46 ± 0.08 to 1.15 ± 0.02), and higher levels of reliance on hunger and satiety cues and mindfulness after the MBES intervention. Body dissatisfaction and levels of reliance on hunger and satiety cues were maintained at follow-up, whereas the disordered eating attitudes and levels of mindfulness increased in the first and third months, respectively. No significant changes were found in the outcomes evaluated in the control group.

Conclusions

The results suggest the positive effects of a MBI on the nutrition students’ body image perceptions and eating attitudes. Further research is needed to investigate such benefits and understand the related mechanisms in other populations.