The cultivating mindfulness stage happens across all 10 sessions of the MB-EAT intervention. It starts through the teaching of breath awareness and sitting meditation, and expands in session 2 to include "mini meditations" to focus attention in relation to eating experiences.

1: Cultivating Mindfulness in Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training

This stage occurs in the mid- to late-sessions of the intervention to create an awareness emotional triggers and eating patterns in relation to Binge Eating Disorder. It teaches patients through mindfulness to use smaller and more quality (in terms of enjoyment) food consumption to fulfill the same emotional needs as BED patterns.

It utilizes a chain reaction exercise adapted from Dialectical Behavior Therapy. 

3: Cultivating Emotional Balance in Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training

The final stage operates to create a better relationship for the patient with their physical self, self-identity, and self in relation to others. It increases body awareness, promotes self-care and forgiveness, and encourages "inner wisdom".

4: Cultivating Self-Acceptance in Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training

The second stage of MB-EAT happens primarily in the first through seventh sessions. It utilizes different mindfulness techniques to reestablish balance in the disrupted aspects of eating. This process begins with the introduction of guided meditation followed by discussion. Patients practice eating food in a more mindful way with a focus on taste, food quality, and identifying hunger and fullness while eating. 

2: Cultivating Mindful Eating in Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training

These stages happen in parallel throughout the sessions, but they are introduced to the patients in the following order:

- 1: Cultivating Mindfulness
- 2:  Cultivating Mindful Eating
- 3: Cultivating Emotional Balance
- 4: Cultivating Self-Acceptance

Georgetown University

University of Texas at Austin

Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT) is an intervention created primarily for Binge Eating Disorder (BED). It is a 10 session intervention that involves teaching patients a variety of mindfulness meditation techniques to address core issues of BED. The program structure focuses on 4 stages that cultivate a non judgmental awareness of the internal experience with eating and external patterns or triggers that continue the cycle of binging. 

Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training

Kristeller, J. L., & Wolever, R. Q. (2010). Mindfulness-based eating awareness training for treating binge eating disorder: the conceptual foundation. Eating disorders, 19(1), 49-61.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10640266.2011.533605

Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training for Treating Binge Eating Disorder

- models of food intake regulation that emphasize the interplay of psychological and physiological control processes
- self-regulation theory
- neuro-cognitive and therapeutic models of mindfulness meditation

Theoretical Approaches in Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training

- control of responses to varying emotional states
- ability to make conscious food choices
- awareness of hunger and satiety cues
- difficulty with self-acceptance


Core Issues of Binge Eating Disorder Addressed by Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training

Originally designed for binge eating disorder, MB-EAT has been studied as a treatment for several other eating problems and maladaptive behaviors, including:
- overeating
- obesity
- diet and exercise habits (especially in adolescents)
- perceived stress
- emotional eating
- weight maintenance post-bariatric surgery

The efficacy of MB-EAT has only been considered for these more generalized issues, but not studied in another major eating disorder outside of BED.

Learn Before

Related

Learn After