4 research outputs found
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The effect of mindful eating on subsequent intake of a high calorie snack
This study examined the effects of applying a mindful eating strategy during lunch on subsequent intake of a palatable snack. It also looked at whether this effect occurred due to improved memory for lunch and whether effects varied with participant gender, level of interoceptive awareness or sensitivity to reward. Participants (n = 51) completed a heartbeat perception task to assess interoceptive awareness. They were then provided with a lunch of 825 calories. Participants in the experimental group ate lunch while listening to an audio clip encouraging them to focus on the sensory properties of the food (e.g. its smell, look, texture). Those in the control group ate lunch in silence. Two hours later participants were offered a snack. They then completed a questionnaire assessing sensitivity to reward as well as other measures assessing various aspects of their memory for lunch. The results showed no significant difference in lunch intake between the two groups but participants in the experimental group consumed significantly less snack than those in the control group; mean = 112.30 calories (SD = 70.24) versus mean = 203.20 calories (SD = 88.05) respectively, Cohen's d = 1.14. This effect occurred regardless of participant gender or level of interoceptive awareness. There was also no significant moderation by sensitivity to reward although one aspect, reward interest, showed a trend towards significance. There was no evidence to indicate that the mindful eating strategy enhanced participants' memory for their lunch. Further research is needed to assess the long-term effects of this strategy, as well as establish the underlying mechanisms. Future work on the relationship between sensitivity to reward and the effects of mindful eating may also benefit from larger sample sizes
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The effects of mindful eating on food intake and diet
The six research studies presented in this thesis explored the effects of a mindful eating strategy on food intake in both a laboratory setting (Studies 1-5) and a real-world setting (Study 6). In both settings, participants were asked to pay attention to the sensory properties of their food while eating. The laboratory studies (1-5), generally showed that food intake was significantly reduced a brief period after applying the strategy (i.e. 10-15 minutes later and two hours later). However, when the strategy was applied outside the laboratory, over a three-day period, results showed that the strategy did not significantly reduce intake nor influence participant dietary choices. The research studies further explored six potential mechanisms that could explain how the mindful eating strategy works to exert its effect on food intake. These mechanisms were related to (1) memory, (2) the weakening of conditioned associations, (3) increased sensory specific satiety, (4) the attempt to maximise pleasure, (5) priming of health-related goals, and (6) reduced rate of eating. Results provided some evidence that the mindful eating strategy could exert its effects by reducing the rate of eating. However, more research is needed to confirm this and establish whether reduced rate of eating partially or fully mediates the strategy’s effects. The research studies also examined a number of potential moderators including sensitivity to reward, gender, interoceptive awareness, hunger, restrained eating and sensitivity to food environment. Results showed no moderating effects, though it is possible that the studies were underpowered to detect such effects. Overall, based on findings, it is reasonably clear that the mindful eating strategy reduces food intake, but it is still not clear when and why this takes place. Future research needs to further explore underlying mechanisms of action to determine in what contexts the strategy is likely to be effective and in what contexts it may have no effect
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A Randomized Controlled Trial Examining the Effects of Mindful Eating and Eating without Distractions on Food Intake over a Three-Day Period
This study compared the effects of mindful eating and eating without distractions on energy intake and diet over a 3-day period among healthy-weight females. Mindful eating was defined as attending to the sensory properties of one’s food as one eats. Participants (n = 99) were asked to either focus on the sensory properties of their food (MIND), eat without distractions (CON-D) or they were not provided with any instructions (CON-I). All participants completed an online food recall measure at the end of each day. Those in the MIND and CON-D groups also rated strategy adherence at the end of each day. Results showed no significant effects of condition on energy intake (ηp2 = 0.00), saturated fat, added sugar and fiber (ηp2 = 0.03), or fruit and vegetables (ηp2 = 0.04). There was also no significant relationship between energy intake and strategy adherence in the MIND group (r = −0.02). For those in the CON-D group, there was a trend toward a negative relationship between energy intake and strategy adherence (r = −0.31, p = 0.085). Among this population, there was no evidence that asking people to attend to the sensory properties of their food improved their diet. Further research is needed to identify mechanisms underpinning significant effects observed in laboratory studies, to help understand when this strategy is, and is not, likely to be helpful
Preclinical evaluation of [F-18]PK-209, a new PET ligand for imaging the ion-channel site of NMDA receptors
Introduction: The present study was designed to assess whether [18F]PK-209 (3-(2-chloro-5-(methylthio)phenyl)-1-(3-([18F]fluoromethoxy)phenyl)-1-methylguanidine) is a suitable ligand for imaging the ion-channel site of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDArs) using positron emission tomography (PET). Methods: Dynamic PET scans were acquired from male rhesus monkeys over 120min, at baseline and after the acute administration of dizocilpine (MK-801, 0.3mg/kg; n=3/condition). Continuous and discrete arterial blood samples were manually obtained, to generate metabolite-corrected input functions. Parametric volume-of-distribution (VT) images were obtained using Logan analysis. The selectivity profile of PK-209 was assessed in vitro, on a broad screen of 79 targets. Results: PK-209 was at least 50-fold more selective for NMDArs over all other targets examined. At baseline, prolonged retention of radioactivity was observed in NMDAr-rich cortical regions relative to the cerebellum. Pretreatment with MK-801 reduced the VTof [18F]PK-209 compared with baseline in two of three subjects. The rate of radioligand metabolism was high, both at baseline and after MK-801 administration. Conclusions: PK-209 targets the intrachannel site with high selectivity. Imaging of the NMDAr is feasible with [18F]PK-209, despite its fast metabolism. Further in vivo evaluation in humans is warranted