Researchers are testing whether listening to mindfulness audio recordings can help overweight people with anxiety or depression control their food cravings better than dieting alone. The study will compare two groups over 14 weeks: one group gets a standard diet plan plus 2 weeks of mindfulness training through audio files, while the other group only gets the diet plan. Since food cravings cause about 11% of overeating, and many people quit their diets, this research could help find an easy way to make weight loss more successful for people struggling with both weight and mood issues.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether adding mindfulness training to regular dieting helps overweight people with anxiety or depression control food cravings better
  • Who participated: Adults who are overweight or obese and have mild to moderate anxiety or depression (exact number not specified)
  • Key finding: This is a study plan - results are not yet available as the research is still being conducted
  • What it means for you: If successful, this could offer an easy, accessible way to improve diet success by using audio recordings to manage food cravings

The Research Details

This is a randomized controlled trial, which means participants are randomly split into two groups to fairly compare treatments. One group gets a standard diet plan plus 2 weeks of mindfulness training through audio recordings they can listen to at home. The other group only gets the diet plan. Researchers will track both groups for 14 weeks to see which approach works better for controlling food cravings and losing weight.

This design is important because it tests mindfulness training in real-world conditions, not just in a lab. Using audio files makes the treatment accessible to more people since they can do it at home on their own schedule.

The study is registered with official trial registries, which means it follows proper research standards. However, since this is just the study plan and results aren’t available yet, we can’t evaluate the actual findings or their reliability.

What the Results Show

Results are not yet available since this is a study protocol describing the research plan. The researchers are still conducting the trial and haven’t published their findings yet.

No secondary results are available as the study is ongoing. The researchers plan to measure not just food cravings but also weight changes and anxiety/depression levels.

Previous studies have shown mindfulness can help with eating behaviors, but most were done in laboratory settings with short follow-up periods. This study aims to test whether the benefits hold up in real-world conditions over a longer time.

Since this is only the study plan, we can’t assess actual limitations yet. However, the open-label design means participants know which treatment they’re getting, which could influence results.

The Bottom Line

It’s too early to make recommendations since the study results aren’t available yet. We need to wait for the actual findings to know if mindfulness audio recordings truly help with food cravings and weight loss.

People who are overweight and struggle with anxiety, depression, and food cravings should watch for these results. However, anyone interested should continue working with healthcare providers for current weight management needs.

The study results should become available after the 14-week follow-up period is complete and data is analyzed, likely within the next 1-2 years.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily food cravings on a 1-10 scale and note triggers like stress, mood, or specific times of day
  • Practice mindful eating by taking 3 deep breaths before meals and eating without distractions like TV or phones
  • Log weekly weight, daily mood ratings, and frequency of giving in to food cravings to identify patterns over time

This article discusses a study protocol with no results yet available. Do not make dietary or health changes based on this preliminary information. Always consult with healthcare professionals before starting any weight loss program or making significant dietary changes, especially if you have anxiety, depression, or other health conditions.