MCD: Increasing Mindfulness and Mindful eating in Bariatric Patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mindful Construal Diaries: Can the MCD increase mindfulness and mindful eating in bariatric surgery patients?
IRAS ID
226930
Contact name
Henna Bahia
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Birmingham City University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study will address whether ‘Mindful Construal Diaries (MCD) can promote successful weight–loss in bariatric surgery patients (BSP) through inducing mindfulness and mindful eating (ME)?’
The MCD is an intervention that consists of 10 questions an individual must consider prior to eating, and revisit while eating. Mindfulness refers to being consciously aware in the present moment and being accepting to emotions, and in practice, ME can be defined as an awareness to thoughts, feelings and emotions related to current food consumption (e.g., portion size, feelings of hunger/satiety, and healthfulness of food). Being underpinned by both concepts, the MCD intervention prompts individuals to consider aspects of their meal by generating a more focused perspective to the experience of eating. Current applications of mindfulness in health-related settings are promising, benefits include long-term weight-loss, and decreases in symptoms associated with physical and psychiatric disorders. Although the MCD is similarly associated with weight-loss, existing literature on its utility within the bariatric surgery population is scant.
As BSP are often unsuccessful in weight-loss prior to surgery, and that weight regain is often observed post-surgery, it is important to explore how the MCD can help BSP overcome these obstacles. Furthermore, as the MCD is yet to be applied to BSP, this research will also establish whether the MCD is effective in promoting mindfulness, ME and subsequent weight-loss in this population. The potential benefits of this research are broad, as it can help establish a novel approach to effective weight-loss in BSP, and equip health care practitioners with a cost-effective weight-loss intervention.
This research will employ a mixed-method design, where participants will be asked to maintain use of the MCD when eating for a three month period, and at their usual care visit complete questionnaires and an interview. Participants will be recruited from Heartland Hospital’s Bariatric Clinic.
REC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0653
Date of REC Opinion
3 May 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion