Overweight Women Who Learn How To Reduce Stress, Eat Mindfully Can Curb Weight Gain

A study by researchers at the University of California–San Francisco has found that mastering some easy techniques for mindful eating and stress reduction can help prevent weight gain during the hectic holiday season without resorting to dieting. Twenty-four of the 47 chronically stressed, overweight and obese women were randomly assigned to mindfulness training and practice, while the other 23 served as a control group. The test group learned stress reduction techniques, how to be more aware of their eating by recognizing bodily sensations, and how to meditate silently. Those who learned best how to listen to their bodies' cues (e.g., hunger, fullness and taste satisfaction), and how to reduce stress, experienced the highest loss of abdominal fat.