How mindfulness influences restrictive eating through the mediation of body image: a diary report study.

Among 65 women with restrictive eating patterns, both stable (trait) and daily (state) mindfulness were linked to less restrictive eating, and this effect was explained by improvements in body image. Daily increases in mindfulness predicted better body image, which in turn predicted less restrictive eating that same day, indicating that body image fully mediates the state-mindfulness-to-eating pathway. Trait and state mindfulness and body image were positively related to each other and inversely related to restrictive eating. The findings suggest that mindfulness-based interventions may reduce maladaptive eating by first improving body image.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This study investigated whether body image mediates the link between mindfulness (state/trait) and restrictive eating behaviors. A 6-day daily survey of 65 females with restrictive eating patterns incorporated correlation, regression, and multilevel mediation analyses. Trait mindfulness, state mindfulness, and body image were positively interrelated, while all three demonstrated inverse relationships with restrictive eating. Both state and trait mindfulness predicted reduced restrictive eating behaviors. Critically, body image fully mediated the effect of state mindfulness on restrictive eating at the intra-individual level, suggesting that daily improvements in mindfulness enhance body image, which subsequently reduces maladaptive eating. State mindfulness mitigates restrictive eating by fostering positive body image, highlighting body image's role in mindfulness-based interventions. Further research should validate this pathway across diverse populations.