Evaluating the psychometric properties of the mindful eating questionnaire: Turkish validity and reliability study

Assessment of Intuitive Eating and Mindful Eating among Higher Education Students: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The role of mindful eating (ME) and intuitive eating (IE) in improving eating behavior, diet quality, and health is an area of increasing interest.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this review was to identify the instruments used to assess ME and IE among higher education students and outcomes related to these dimensions.

METHODS

This review was carried out according to the PRISMA statement, through systematic searches in PubMed, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Scopus. The inclusion criteria selected for higher education students, levels of ME and/or IE reported, and observational and clinical studies. The exclusion criteria selected against reviews, qualitative studies, and case studies. Quality was assessed using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Quality Criteria Checklist.

RESULTS

A total of 516 initial records were identified, from which 75 were included. Cross-sectional studies were the most common research design (86.7%). Most studies were conducted with samples that were predominantly female (90.7%), White (76.0%), aged 18 to 22 years (88.4%), with BMI < 25 kg/m2 (83.0%), and in the United States (61.3%). The Intuitive Eating Scale (IES), the Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ), and their different versions were the most used instruments. The outcomes most studies included were eating behavior and disorders (77.3%), anthropometric assessments (47.8%), mental health (42.0%), and body image (40.6%). Regarding the quality of studies, 34.7% of studies were assigned a positive, 1.3% a negative, and 64.0% a neutral rate.

CONCLUSIONS

IES and MEQ were the most used instruments. RCT and cohort studies are scarce, and future research with a higher level of quality is needed, especially on the topics of food consumption, diet quality, and biochemical markers.

Chronotype is associated with addiction-like eating behavior, mindful eating and ultra-processed food intake among undergraduate students

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between chronotype and addiction-like eating behavior, mindful eating and ultra-processed food consumption among undergraduate students. Specific and validated scales were used in order to evaluate chronotype, addiction-like eating behavior and mindful eating (N = 605). Dietary intake was determined by food frequency questionnaire and percentage energy from ultra-processed food was calculated. Self-reported weights and heights were obtained from the participants. Mean scores of scales, social jetlag, energy intake, ultra-processed food intake and BMI were compared by chronotypes. Associations between chronotype, addiction-like eating behavior, mindful eating, ultra-processed food consumption and BMI were determined by Pearson's test. The relationships between chronotype and addiction-like eating behavior, mindful eating and ultra-processed food intake were assessed by linear regression models and adjusted for sex, BMI, energy intake, season, smoking and alcohol consumption. Evening-type participants had higher scores of social jetlag (2.01 ± 0.09), appetitive drive (26.02 ± 0.63), low dietary control (20.50 ± 0.41), addiction-like eating behavior (46.52 ± 0.85), lower scores of recognition (21.91 ± 0.43) and higher percentage energy from ultra-processed food (32.24 ± 1.26%). Chronotype score showed negative associations with addiction like eating behavior (β=-0.247, p < 0.001) and ultra-processed food consumption (β=-0.247, p < 0.001), and a positive association with recognition (β = 0.124, p < 0.001). Results suggest that chronotype is inversely associated with addiction-like eating behavior and ultra-processed food consumption, and positively associated with mindful eating among undergraduate students.

Mindful Eating Questionnaire: Validation and Reliability in Romanian Adults

Mindful eating may play an important role in long-term weight maintenance. In interventions aiming at weight reduction, increasing the levels of mindful eating was associated with higher levels of success and lower levels of weight rebound in the long run. This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of a mindful eating questionnaire for Romanian adults using Framson's Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ). To calculate the internal (n = 495) and external (n = 45) reliability, a general population sample was taken. Construct validity was assessed using the "known groups" method: dietitians (n = 70), sports professionals (n = 52), and individuals with overweight and obesity (n = 200). Convergent validity tested the association between the MEQ score and demographic characteristics of the total sample (n = 617). The internal (0.72) and external (0.83) reliability were adequate. Dietitians and sports professionals had overall lower scores, meaning more mindful eating compared to the group of individuals with overweight and obesity. The lower mindful eating practice was associated with the presence of excess weight, suboptimal health status perception, higher levels of stress and younger age. The Romanian version of the MEQ is a reliable and valid tool for measuring mindfulness of eating in adults.