The role of mindfulness training in sustaining weight reduction: retrospective cohort analysis. Issue 6 (15th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hanson, Petra; Lange, Maria; Oduro-Donkor, Dominic; Shuttlewood, Emma; Weickert, Martin O.; Randeva, Harpal S.; Menon, Vinod; Alexander, Regi T.; Basset, Paul; Shankar, Rohit; Barber, Tom M.
• Is Part Of: BJPsych open. Volume 8:Issue 6(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11-15
• Subjects: Complimentary therapies -- education and training -- psychosocial interventions -- cognitive behavioural therapies -- outcome studies; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental health -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2022.602
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2056-4724

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Psychological stress has an established bi-directional relationship with obesity. Mindfulness techniques reduce stress and improve eating behaviours, but their long-term impact remains untested. CALMPOD (Compassionate Approach to Living Mindfully for Prevention of Disease) is a psychoeducational mindfulness-based course evidenced to improve eating patterns across a 6-month period, possibly by reducing stress. However, no long-term evaluation of impact exists. Aims: This study retrospectively evaluates 2-year outcomes of CALMPOD on patient engagement, weight and metabolic markers. Method: All adults with a body mass index >35 kg/m 2 attending an UK obesity service during 2016–2020 were offered CALMPOD. Those who refused CALMPOD were offered standard lifestyle advice. Routine clinic data over 2 years, including age, gender, 6-monthly appointment attendance, weight, haemoglobin A1C and total cholesterol, were pooled and analysed to evaluate CALMPOD. Results: Of 289 patients, 163 participated in the CALMPOD course and 126 did not. No baseline demographic differences existed between the participating and non-participating groups. The CALMPOD group had improved attendance across all 6-monthly appointments compared with the non-CALMPOD group ( P < 0.05). Mean body weight reduction at 2 years was 5.6 kg (s.d. 11.2, P < 0.001) for the CALMPOD group compared with 3.9 kg (s.d. 10.5, P < 0.001) for the non-CALMPOD group. No differences in haemoglobin A1C and fasting serum total cholesterol were identified between the groups. Conclusions: The retrospective evaluation of CALMPOD suggests potential for mindfulness and compassion-based group educational techniques to improve longer-term patient and clinical outcomes. Prospective large-scale studies are needed to evaluate the impact of stress on obesity and the true impact of CALMPOD.