Can Mindfulness Help In The Battle Against Obesity?
There is more good news for those of us who practice mindfulness! As you may already know, I have embarked on a course of daily meditation due to the many positive health benefits. As a born-again mindful addict I am going to get all smug now, thanks to interesting research recently released by Brown University.
We should start with defining mindfulness. Normally, we rush around, barely aware of what is going on. Our minds race with a list of things to do and we are oblivious both to our surroundings and to our body. Mindfulness is the opposite of this. When you are being mindful your mind is clear and you are relaxed. You are merely observing what is happening, what you are feeling, what your breath feels like, where you are carrying tension in your body…
Meditation is a method to practice and develop mindfulness. It is often associated with Buddhism but anyone of any faith or none can practice mindfulness. I know I probably haven’t given that impression by choosing a photo of Buddha, but chubby Buddha, mindfulness and obesity just seemed a sight gag too good to pass up!
Mindfulness and Obesity
The study measured physical and psychological health indicators in 399 volunteers. One of these health indicators was blood glucose level. Another was dispositional mindfulness or, how mindful the person was in everyday life. Other indicators included age, sex, race, family history, education level, perceived stress levels, perceived sense of control and a host more. These indicators were taken into account and adjusted for.
Another reason to practice Mindfulness!Click To TweetSo what did they find? Basically, the people who score highest on the scale for mindfulness were significantly more likely to have healthy blood-glucose levels than the others in the study. Unhealthy blood-glucose levels can contribute to conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, the data were not strong enough to determine if mindfulness has an effect on diabetes. The mindful volunteers were 20% less likely to have diabetes but this was not statistically significant. As usual, a larger study needs to take place.
“There’s been almost no epidemiological observational study investigations on the relationship of mindfulness with diabetes or any cardiovascular risk factor. This is one of the first. We’re getting a signal. I’d love to see it replicated in larger sample sizes and prospective studies as well.” – Eric Loucks, assistant professor of epidemiology, Brown University
Of course we can’t say for sure that mindfulness causes healthier blood sugar levels, but the researches think that the practice helps people to feel more in control of their lives. Therefore they are better at making choices that benefit their health.
“This study demonstrated a significant association of dispositional mindfulness with glucose regulation, and provided novel evidence that obesity and sense of control may serve as potential mediators of this association,” – Loucks
Why would mindfulness increase your sense of control? In essence, by practicing mindfulness you are training your brain to disregard distractions, to clear your mind and to concentrate on something simple like your breathing. Regular practice can help ease disruptive emotions and anxiety. Mindfulness is like flexing your focus muscle and meditation is the gym session that strengthens it!
Do you have a good, or bad, experience with mindfulness and meditation? I’d love to hear it!
Source:
- Brown University – Everyday mindfulness linked to healthy glucose levels
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I had an absolutely TERRIBLE experience with meditation! After about five minutes, I suddenly felt this very heavy, darkness. I then had terrible, repetitive dreams about demons for the next three nights before finally experiencing what most just call sleep paralysis. NOTHING like any of that had ever happened to me or happened since. I can’t ever bring myself to meditate ever again :-/
Wow, that does sound terrifying Amber! It’s very unusual, I would have thought.
I can fully understand why you don’t want to try it again.
To be honest,I was expecting something along the lines of people finding it boring or frustrating. That’s genuinely freaky!
If meditation is the key to avoiding obesity then I am doomed! I have neither the time nor the inclination to ”navel-gaze”. Perhaps it’s my mindset which needs to be revisited and rebooted because my present mindset doesn’t seem to be working too well.
I once shared your view Bill! However, if you boil it down, meditation is simply an exercise to train your focus. You learn to acknowledge but ignore distractions. The relaxation is an added benefit!
Did you know that even the US Military now teaches mindfulness meditation to the troops? BP Oil, the University of Texas… these are just some of the institutions that have embraced mental focus training (which is all meditation really is) as a powerfully effective method for improving performance.
In the military they call it “Square Breath Method” instead of meditation. You simply breathe in for the count of 4, hold for count of 4, breath out for count of 4, then pause on empty for a count of 4. Soldiers are taught to use it in any time of stress, even on the battlefield.
If it can work for them in such extreme situations, what can it do for you in daily life? Don’t get hung up on names. Take responsibility for what’s going on in your own mind.
I didn’t know that Indigo, thanks! It makes sense as many athletes use a form of mindfulness to enhance their performance. Also it can lessen the effects of post traumatic stress disorder.
It’s also beginning to creep into schools here in Ireland, which can only be a good thing. Kids are suffering more from anxiety all over the western world it seems.
Hi Dermot,
I believe there’s a danger with not being mindful. People tend to eat more when they are worried are in difficult circumstances.
This is a significant problem as far as relationships are concerned too.
Everyones so busy they don’t have time to pay attention to their family.
But husbands and wives tend to pretend everything is all right.
Nice post.
Vernon
Yes, I agree Vernon. Many of us live life on autopilot, worrying about the future (or past) and we don’t pay enough attention to what we’re putting into our mouths!