Mindfulness and Eating Disorder Symptoms

"MECL is a 8 week mindfulness-based group intervention. Each session is of 2.5-3 hours duration. During the sessions, theories about eating-related difficulties in general are presented, participants are guided in mindfulness practices and participants who want to share their experiences in the group can do so. Topics include: (1) What is mindfulness, why and how can we use mindfulness in relation to eating (2) slowing down, taking breaks and noticing different types of hunger (e.g. physical hunger and the hunger for comfort - heart hunger) (3) working with satiety and satisfaction (4) becoming aware of patterns associated with one's eating behaviors, (5) awareness of feelings and bodily sensations (6) Food and mood (7) craving, and finally (8) working with heart hunger and emotional eating. Six to 10 participants participated in each group."