Do Mindfulness Interventions Improve Obesity Rates in Children and Adolescents: A Review of the Evidence

doi:10.2147/DMSO.S220671

Review

. 2021 Nov 25:14:4621-4629.

doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S220671. eCollection 2021.

Do Mindfulness Interventions Improve Obesity Rates in Children and Adolescents: A Review of the Evidence

Terrah Keck-Kester¹, Lina Huerta-Saenz², Ryan Spotts¹, Laura Duda¹, Nazia Raja-Khan³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Academic General Pediatrics, Penn State, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
² Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Penn State, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
³ Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pa, USA.

PMID: 34858040
PMCID: PMC8629947
DOI: 10.2147/DMSO.S220671

Review

Do Mindfulness Interventions Improve Obesity Rates in Children and Adolescents: A Review of the Evidence

Terrah Keck-Kester et al. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2021.

. 2021 Nov 25:14:4621-4629.

doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S220671. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Terrah Keck-Kester¹, Lina Huerta-Saenz², Ryan Spotts¹, Laura Duda¹, Nazia Raja-Khan³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Academic General Pediatrics, Penn State, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
² Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Penn State, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
³ Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pa, USA.

PMID: 34858040
PMCID: PMC8629947
DOI: 10.2147/DMSO.S220671

Abstract

Mindfulness interventions have shown promise in improving self-regulation, depression, anxiety, and stress levels across all ages. Obesity rates in children are rising worldwide. It has been postulated that through improvements in self-regulation with mindfulness interventions, obesity rates can be improved in children and adolescents. In this review, we attempt to explain how mindfulness interventions may impact obesity rates and obesity-related complications and give the current state of evidence for the following mindfulness interventions: Mindful Eating, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Yoga, Spirituality, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Keywords: dialectic behavioral therapy; mindful based stress reduction; mindful eating; spirituality; yoga.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

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Human Eating Behavior and Fatness.

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References

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1. Jea S, Irby MB, Grzywacz JG, Miller G. Etiologies of Obesity in Children: nature and Nutrute. Pediatric Clin North Am. 2011;58(6):1333–1354. doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2011.09.006 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
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1. Marchi J, Berg M, Dencker A, Olander EK, Begley C. Risks associated with obesity in pregnancy, for the mother and baby: a systematic review of reviews. Obes Rev. 2015;16:621–638. doi:10.1111/obr.12288 - DOI - PubMed

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[1] Hales CM, Carroll MD, Fryar CD, Ogden CL. Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults and Youth: United States, 2015–2016. NCHS Data Brief. 2017;1:1–8. - PubMed

[2] Hales CM, Carroll MD, Fryar CD, Ogden CL. Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults and Youth: United States, 2015–2016. NCHS Data Brief. 2017;1:1–8. - PubMed

[3] Jea S, Irby MB, Grzywacz JG, Miller G. Etiologies of Obesity in Children: nature and Nutrute. Pediatric Clin North Am. 2011;58(6):1333–1354. doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2011.09.006 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Jea S, Irby MB, Grzywacz JG, Miller G. Etiologies of Obesity in Children: nature and Nutrute. Pediatric Clin North Am. 2011;58(6):1333–1354. doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2011.09.006 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Rea B. Severe childhood obesity: an under-recognized and growing health problem. Postgrad Med J. 2015;91(1081):639–645. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2014-133033 - DOI - PubMed

[6] Rea B. Severe childhood obesity: an under-recognized and growing health problem. Postgrad Med J. 2015;91(1081):639–645. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2014-133033 - DOI - PubMed

[7] Apovian CM. Obesity: definition, comorbidities, causes, and burden. Am J Manag Care. 2016;22:s176–185. - PubMed

[8] Apovian CM. Obesity: definition, comorbidities, causes, and burden. Am J Manag Care. 2016;22:s176–185. - PubMed

[9] Marchi J, Berg M, Dencker A, Olander EK, Begley C. Risks associated with obesity in pregnancy, for the mother and baby: a systematic review of reviews. Obes Rev. 2015;16:621–638. doi:10.1111/obr.12288 - DOI - PubMed

[10] Marchi J, Berg M, Dencker A, Olander EK, Begley C. Risks associated with obesity in pregnancy, for the mother and baby: a systematic review of reviews. Obes Rev. 2015;16:621–638. doi:10.1111/obr.12288 - DOI - PubMed

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Do Mindfulness Interventions Improve Obesity Rates in Children and Adolescents: A Review of the Evidence

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Do Mindfulness Interventions Improve Obesity Rates in Children and Adolescents: A Review of the Evidence

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Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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