Kimberly is a recent Vanier Canada Graduate Scholar. Her research explores the efficacy of mindfulness-based programs on individuals with overweight and obesity. By better understanding the underlining mechanisms of mindfulness that support successful eating regulation, it is her goal to develop successful weight management programs.
Developing and Validating a new Mindful Eating Questionnaire (FFaMES)
Sunday, May 3, 2020 — 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Previous mindful eating scales have several shortcomings that limit the valid assessment of mindful eating. Notably, these scales tend to overemphasize the attentional components of mindful eating while disregarding the attitudinal features of the construct.
The present research describes the development and evaluation of a comprehensive scale that assesses several domains of eating-specific mindfulness (Studies 1 and 2), as well as provide data on its reliability and validity (Study 3). The final 30-item scale (FFaMES) consists of four domains: Non-Judgmental Observation, Non-Reactance to Internal and External Experience, Introspective Awareness of Thoughts and Mood, and External Awareness of External Triggers to Eat.
Findings demonstrate that scores on FFaMES are uniquely associated with body weight and obesity-related eating behaviors. Lower scores are associated with higher levels of emotional eating, external eating, and restrained eating, as well as, BMI. These results suggest the potential benefits of mindful eating for effective weight management. Specifically, our scale highlights the importance of non-judgmental observation and non-reactance in the development of healthy eating behaviors.
FFaMES is a promising mindful eating measure with good psychometric properties. Our findings support its use by clinicians and researchers to address problematic eating behaviors. Specifically, FFaMES may assist in (1) clarifying which mindfulness skills are most important for the effectiveness of mindful eating programs; (2) assist in examining the potential differences between obese, overweight and normal weight individuals with regards to mindful eating; (3) facilitate the development and refinement of mindful eating-based training programs for clinical and non-clinical populations, and (4) provide mindful eating educators with an effective tool to assess the varying strengths and weaknesses of their clients.
Participants will come away with:
- A psychometrically strong questionnaire can help to clarify which mindful eating skills are most important for successful weight management and healthy eating
- Clarifying these skills can help to improve mindful eating programs in the future
- Past questionnaires emphasize the attentional components of the construct; however, our scale suggests otherwise. It seems that cultivating a non-judgmental and non-reactive stance to eating-related experiences is vital for weight management