Eating Disorder

Improve Well-Being with Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

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Guy Checking Smartwatch When Meditating In Lotus Pose - Stock Video | Motion Array

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

 

In today’s Research News article “Mindfulness-based stress reduction training supplemented with physiological signals from smartwatch improves mindfulness and reduces stress, but not anxiety and depression” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12017836/ ) Sumińska and colleagues examined the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) therapy alone or in combination with smartwatch provided feedback on heart rate, breath, and movement. They found that MBSR produced significant increases in mindfulness and significant decreases in stress, anxiety, eating disorder symptoms, and intrusive ruminations. The addition of smartwatch physiological feedback further enhanced mindfulness.

 

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training improves well-being.

 

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

 

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog  http://contemplative-studies.org

 

Study Summary

 

Sumińska S, Rynkiewicz A. Mindfulness-based stress reduction training supplemented with physiological signals from smartwatch improves mindfulness and reduces stress, but not anxiety and depression. PLoS One. 2025;20(4):e0322413. Published 2025 Apr 23. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0322413

 

Abstract

Introduction

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) helps counteract the negative consequences of stress. An essential aspect of mind-body therapies is learning to be mindful of emotional reactions and bodily sensations, a process defined as interoceptive awareness. This awareness can also be enhanced by providing physiological feedback from a smartwatch. However, the impact of using smartwatch-generated physiological signals during mindfulness training has not been studied yet. The study aims at verifying, whether physiological signals from a smartwatch would support the MBSR.

Methods

We conducted a mixed-design randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of MBSR training, with and without monitoring physiological signals via a smartwatch, on mental functioning parameters, with measurements taken at baseline and after 8 weeks. Participants were classified into three groups (N = 72): the MBSR group, the MBSR + smartwatch group, and the control group. Between measurement sessions, two groups of participants were engaged in MBSR training, while the third group did not participate in any training.

Results

Results showed a significant reduction in subjectively perceived stress levels, eating disorder symptoms, and intrusive ruminations in both groups participating in MBSR, compared to the control group. However, a notable difference emerged between the two MBSR groups: in the group with smartwatches, a significant increase in mindfulness was observed. In contrast, in the MBSR group without smartwatches, there was a significant decrease across multiple stress-related components, including: anxiety, cognitive impairment, addictions, sleep disorders symptoms, behaviors indicating lack of entertainment, and poor functioning.

Conclusions

The results suggest that supplementing MBSR with monitoring interoceptive signals by a smartwatch enhances mindfulness, and maintains the effect of stress and eating disorders symptoms reduction but does not decrease anxiety nor improve general mental functioning. This imposes the need for further research to investigate mechanisms involved when observing interoceptive signals by a smartwatch.

 

Mindfulness Reduces Binge Eating

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Let's Talk About Binge Eating Disorder (BED) - Behavioral Health Clinic | Counseling & Therapy Services

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

 

In today’s Research News article “Mindfulness-based interventions for binge eating: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11893636/ ) Liu and colleagues review, summarize, and perform a meta-analysis on published research studies on the application of mindfulness therapies on binge eating. They report that the published research found that mindfulness therapies significantly reduced binge eating.

 

Use mindfulness therapies to treat binge eating.

 

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

 

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog  http://contemplative-studies.org

 

Study Summary

 

Liu J, Tynan M, Mouangue A, Martin C, Manasse S, Godfrey K. Mindfulness-based interventions for binge eating: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. J Behav Med. 2025 Feb;48(1):57-89. doi: 10.1007/s10865-025-00550-5. Epub 2025 Feb 20. PMID: 39979674; PMCID: PMC11893636.

 

Abstract

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have gained popularity in recent years in treating binge eating. Previous reviews and meta-analyses have found that MBIs demonstrated medium-large to large effects in reducing binge eating. However, as the literature on this topic has been growing rapidly, an updated review on MBIs’ effectiveness is much needed. This study is a 10-year update of the Godfrey, Gallo, & Afari (2015) systematic review and meta-analysis of MBIs for binge eating. PubMED, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched using keywords including binge eating, overeating, objective bulimic episodes, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness, meditation, and mindful eating. Results indicate there has been a large increase in the number of studies testing MBIs for binge eating in the past 10 years with 54 studies meeting inclusion criteria, compared to 19 ten years ago. The majority of the studies yielded large and medium effect sizes. The random effects meta-analysis of between-group effect sizes yielded medium-large effects for MBIs versus non-psychological intervention controls at post-treatment (mean Hedge’s g = − 0.65) and follow-up (mean Hedge’s g = − 0.71), and negligible effects for MBIs versus active psychological controls at post-treatment (mean Hedge’s g = − 0.05) and follow-up (mean Hedge’s g = 0.13). Of all MBIs, DBT had the most studies with large effects. More studies examined MBIs that directly targeted binge eating had larger effects than studies with MBIs targeting other health outcomes (with binge eating as a secondary outcome). New studies included in the current review were internationally-conducted, focused more on participants with overweight or obesity, involved more self-help and technology-based components, and had more novel and innovative interventions components. Future MBIs research should conduct more RCTs comparing MBIs with other psychological interventions, conduct meta-analyses to examine the effectiveness of different types of MBIs and intervention targets, and extend follow-up periods.