Mindfulness: Feel Good about Eating

Though most of us don't have a clinical eating disorder, we may experience a kind of disordered eating. We may not binge to extreme levels, but we might eat in response to feeling stressed, rather than just in response to hunger. We may not be anorexic, but sometimes we might get obsessive over calories, fat, or carbs. Especially as the holiday season is upon us, maintaining a healthy relationship with our food can keep us feeling happy and healthy.

A new study out of Australia investigated the relationship between mindfulness and symptoms of disordered eating. The study asked 159 exercisers about both their exercising and eating behavior. Results indicate that yoga practice was associated with significantly fewer symptoms of disordered eating, while cardiovascular exercise was associated with greater eating disturbance. Upon further investigation, researchers discovered that the relationship between yoga and healthy eating was actually explained by differences in participants’ levels of trait mindfulness and body awareness.Thus, it is mindfulness that contributes to a more healthy relationship with food and eating.

Keryn Breiterman-Loader