Women listen up -- mindfulness more effective in weight loss than dieting

According to a recent study mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a secular mindfulness meditation program, improves quality of life in obese women in addition to lowering the fasting blood glucose levels in the body. Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD at the University of Massachusetts Medical School developed the program.

MBSR what exactly is it?

The practise of MBSR involves paying attention to one's thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations in the present moment in a non-judgmental and nonreactive manner through mindfulness exercises such as breathing awareness. MBSR might be beneficial for overweight and obese women as it has been shown to reduce stress and improve quality of life.

What did the study reveal?

In the study, the MBSR group's mindfulness scores significantly increased and its perceived stress scores significantly decreased, compared to the HEC group's scores. While sleep, depression, anxiety and overall psychological distress improved in both groups, fasting glucose dropped significantly and quality of life improved significantly in the MBSR group, but not in the HEC group.

Weight, body mass index, blood pressure, lipid profile, hemoglobin A1c, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) remained similar with MBSR.

Source: ANI

Image Source: Getty Images

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