Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Distress, Weight Gain, and Glucose Control for Pregnant Low-Income Women: A Quasi-Experimental Trial Using the ORBIT Model.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Stress can lead to excessive weight gain. Mindfulness-based stress reduction that incorporates mindful eating shows promise for reducing stress, overeating, and improving glucose control. No interventions have tested mindfulness training with a focus on healthy eating and weight gain during pregnancy, a period of common excessive weight gain. Here, we test the effectiveness of such an intervention, the Mindful Moms Training (MMT), on perceived stress, eating behaviors, and gestational weight gain in a high-risk sample of low income women with overweight/obesity.

METHOD:

We conducted a quasi-experimental study assigning 115 pregnant women to MMT for 8 weeks and comparing them to 105 sociodemographically and weight equivalent pregnant women receiving treatment as usual. Our main outcomes included weight gain (primary outcome), perceived stress, and depression.

RESULTS:

Women in MMT showed significant reductions in perceived stress (β = - 0.16) and depressive symptoms (β = - 0.21) compared to the treatment as usual (TAU) control group. Consistent with national norms, the majority of women (68%) gained excessive weight according to Institute of Medicine weight-gain categories, regardless of group. Slightly more women in the MMT group gained below the recommendation. Among secondary outcomes, women in MMT reported increased physical activity (β = 0.26) and had lower glucose post-oral glucose tolerance test (β = - 0.23), being 66% less likely to have impaired glucose tolerance, compared to the TAU group.

CONCLUSION:

A short-term intervention led to significant improvements in stress, and showed promise for preventing glucose intolerance. However, the majority of women gained excessive weight. A longer more intensive intervention may be needed for this high-risk population. Clinical Trials.gov #NCT01307683.

• Authors: E Epel, B Laraia, K Coleman-Phox, C Leung, C Vieten, L Mellin, J L Kristeller, M Thomas, N Stotland, N Bush, R H Lustig, M Dallman, F M Hecht, N Adler
• Journal: International journal of behavioral medicine (Int J Behav Med) Vol. 26 Issue 5 Pg. 461-473 (Oct 2019) ISSN: 1532-7558 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 30993601 (Publication Type: Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose

Topics

• Adult
• Blood Glucose (metabolism)
• Depression (therapy)
• Diet, Healthy (psychology)
• Female
• Humans
• Hyperphagia (therapy)
• Mindfulness (methods)
• Obesity (therapy)
• Overweight (therapy)
• Pilot Projects
• Poverty
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications (therapy)
• Weight Gain (physiology)
• Young Adult