BACKGROUND: Mindful awareness, willingness and values clarity have been examined as protective factors across a wide range of problems, including overweight/obesity. However, these variables have almost exclusively been examined at the trait-level. It is possible that these variables also fluctuate within individuals in daily life, and that these intraindividual fluctuations may in turn be related to food craving and dietary lapse. The current study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine the extent to which momentary mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity varied within-person, and were associated with craving and likelihood of dietary lapse among weight-loss seeking individuals with overweight/obesity prior to starting a weight loss program. We also examined the extent to which craving was associated with dietary lapse. METHODS: Adults with overweight/obesity (N = 126) completed one week of EMA prior to enrolling in a randomized controlled trial of behavioral weight loss treatments. They responded to EMA questions assessing dietary lapses, craving, mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity six-times per day. RESULTS: Mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity demonstrated substantial within-person variability, and higher within-person mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity were concurrently (but not prospectively) associated with lower craving and likelihood of dietary lapse. Higher craving was concurrently (but not prospectively) associated with higher likelihood of dietary lapse. Between-person, higher mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity were associated with lower craving and likelihood of dietary lapse, and higher craving was associated with greater frequency of dietary lapses. CONCLUSION: Mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity vary substantially at the daily level, and may be important mechanisms to target to reduce craving and dietary lapses in the daily lives of individuals with overweight/obesity.
BACKGROUND: Mindful awareness, willingness and values clarity have been examined as protective factors across a wide range of problems, including overweight/obesity. However, these variables have almost exclusively been examined at the trait-level. It is possible that these variables also fluctuate within individuals in daily life, and that these intraindividual fluctuations may in turn be related to food craving and dietary lapse. The current study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine the extent to which momentary mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity varied within-person, and were associated with craving and likelihood of dietary lapse among weight-loss seeking individuals with overweight/obesity prior to starting a weight loss program. We also examined the extent to which craving was associated with dietary lapse. METHODS: Adults with overweight/obesity (N = 126) completed one week of EMA prior to enrolling in a randomized controlled trial of behavioral weight loss treatments. They responded to EMA questions assessing dietary lapses, craving, mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity six-times per day. RESULTS: Mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity demonstrated substantial within-person variability, and higher within-person mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity were concurrently (but not prospectively) associated with lower craving and likelihood of dietary lapse. Higher craving was concurrently (but not prospectively) associated with higher likelihood of dietary lapse. Between-person, higher mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity were associated with lower craving and likelihood of dietary lapse, and higher craving was associated with greater frequency of dietary lapses. CONCLUSION: Mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity vary substantially at the daily level, and may be important mechanisms to target to reduce craving and dietary lapses in the daily lives of individuals with overweight/obesity.
Authors: Leah M Schumacher; Gerald J Martin; Stephanie P Goldstein; Stephanie M Manasse; Ross D Crosby; Meghan L Butryn; Jason Lillis; Evan M Forman Journal: Health Psychol Date: 2017-11-27 Impact factor: 4.267
Authors: Evan M Forman; Leah M Schumacher; Ross Crosby; Stephanie M Manasse; Stephanie P Goldstein; Meghan L Butryn; Emily P Wyckoff; J Graham Thomas Journal: Ann Behav Med Date: 2017-10
Authors: Jeanne Dalen; Bruce W Smith; Brian M Shelley; Anita Lee Sloan; Lisa Leahigh; Debbie Begay Journal: Complement Ther Med Date: 2010-11-11 Impact factor: 2.446
Authors: Sarah Landmann; Barbara Cludius; Brunna Tuschen-Caffier; Steffen Moritz; Anne Katrin Külz Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2020-02-03 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: E M Forman; M L Butryn; A S Juarascio; L E Bradley; M R Lowe; J D Herbert; J A Shaw Journal: Obesity (Silver Spring) Date: 2013-05-13 Impact factor: 5.002