Effectiveness of mindfulness training based on eating on body image and alexithymia of overweight women

Abstract

Background and purpose: overweight is a complex disorder that can be explained by a large number of biological, psychological and social factors. The purpose of this research was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness training based on eating on body image and alexithymia of overweight women. Methods: The current research design was a semi-experimental type of pre-test, post-test and follow-up with a control group. The statistical population in this research included all overweight women of Gonbadkavus city who referred to overweight and obesity treatment clinics in the first half of 1400. From the statistical population of the research, a sample group consisting of 30 overweight women who were selected in a purposeful way and then randomly assigned to two experimental groups (mind-awareness training based on eating) (15 people) and control (15 people) became Then overweight women in the experimental group underwent 8 sessions of 90 minutes each week, one session of mindfulness training based on eating, but the control group did not receive any intervention. The research tool was Littleton et al.'s Body Image Concern Questionnaire (2005) and Toronto's Dyslexia Scale (2007). Analysis of variance with repeated measurements and spss software were used to analyze the data. Rsults: The results showed that there is a significant difference in terms of improving embarrassment about one's appearance (F=38.20, P<0.001), concern about appearance with performance (F=32.06, P<0.001), Difficulty identifying emotions (F=8.16, P<0.001), difficulty describing emotions (F=10.83, P<0.001), and outward-oriented thinking (F=10.89, P<0.001) between the subjects of the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: It can be concluded that mindfulness training based on eating was effective on body image and alexithymia of overweight women and this effect continued until the follow-up period.