Automatically generated rough PDF by ProofCheck from River Valley Technologies Ltd DE GRUYTER Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine. 2017; 20160048 Kathleen C. Spadaro 1 / Kelliann K. Davis 2 / Susan M. Sereika 3 / Bethany B. Gibbs 4 / John M. Jakicic 5 / Susan M. Cohen 6 Effect of mindfulness meditation on short-term weight loss and eating behaviors in overweight and obese adults: A randomized controlled trial 1 Nursing Programs, Chatham University, Woodland Road, 217 Eastside, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA, E-mail: kspadaro@chatham.edu 2 Department of Health and Physical Activity, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 3 Department of Heath and Community Systems and Center for Research and Evaluation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 4 Department of Health and Physical Activity, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 5 Department of Health and Physical Activity, Director of Physical Activity and Weight Management Research Center, Univer- sity of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 6 Department of Promotion and Development, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Abstract: Background: There is a signifcant health crisis with rates of obesity continuing to increase despite research and clinical standard behavioral weight loss programs (SBWP). Mindfulness meditation (MM), with demonstrated benefts on physical, psychological health, and self-regulation behaviors was explored with SBWP. Methods: Forty-six adults (BMI=32.5±3.7 kg/m 2 ; age=45.2±8.2 years, 87 % female, 21.7 % African American) were randomly assigned to a 6-month SBWP only (n=24) or SBWP+MM (n=22) at a university-based phys- ical activity and weight management research center in a northeastern US city. Participants were instructed to decrease intake (1200–1500 kcal/day), increase physical activity (300 min/wk), and attend weekly SBWP or SBWP+MM sessions. SBWP+MM had the same SBWP lessons with addition of focused MM training. Out- come measures collected at 0, 3, and 6 months included: weight, Block Food Frequency Questionnaire, Eating Behavior Inventory, Eating Inventory and Pafenbarger Physical Activity Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using linear mixed modeling for eficacy analysis of weight (primary) and eating, exercise and mindfulness (secondary outcomes). Results: Retention rate was 76.1 % (n=35). A signifcant group by time interaction (p=0.03) was found for weight, with weight loss favoring SBWP+MM (−6.9 kg +2.9) over SBWP (−4.1 kg +2.8). Eating behaviors (p=0.02) and dietary restraint (p=0.02) improved signifcantly in SBWP+MM, compared to SBWP. MM enhanced weight loss by 2.8 kg potentially through greater improvements in eating behaviors and dietary restraint. Conclusions: These fndings support further study into the use of MM strategies with overweight and obese adults. The use of this low-cost, portable strategy with standard behavioral interventions could improve weight management outcomes. Keywords: behavioral weight loss, eating behaviors, mindfulness meditation, obesity DOI: 10.1515/jcim-2016-0048 Received: May 27, 2016; Accepted: November 1, 2017 Introduction The current prevalence of overweight (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m 2 ) in American adults is estimated to be 68.5 %, with 34.9 % of those individuals classifed as obese (BMI > 30 kg/m 2 ) [1] and thus continues to be a signifcant health crisis in the United States. Lifestyle changes taught in behavioral weight loss interventions have been shown to efectively treat overweight and obesity, producing an average loss of 10.7 kg (11 % of initial weight) [2], with maximal weight loss usually occurring around 6 months [3]. Despite these facts, the continued treatment of obesity is warranted in that even a modest weight loss of 5–10 % of initial body weight results in benefcial health efects [4–6]. Thus it remains important to continue to investigate interventions with value added that address the challenges of weight loss and potentially enhance success. Kathleen C. Spadaro is the corresponding author. © 2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston. 1 Brought to you by | University of Florida Authenticated Download Date | 12/7/17 9:47 AM