Exploring the Role of Self-Kindness in Making Healthier Eating Choices: A Preliminary Study
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BRIEF REPORT
Exploring the Role of Self-Kindness in Making Healthier Eating Choices: A Preliminary Study Misba Hussain 1
&
Helen Egan 1 & Rebecca Keyte 1 & Michail Mantzios 1
Accepted: 28 October 2020 # International Society of Behavioral Medicine 2020
Abstract Background Food selection is an important factor in the prevalence of obesity, and regularly choosing nutrient-poor high-energy foods can have negative health consequences. The present study tested whether the use of mindful construal diaries (MCD) combined with self-kindness could promote healthier eating choices. Method Ninety participants were randomly assigned to either a self-kindness to the mind condition or self-kindness to the mind and body condition, and were served M&Ms and grapes as an unhealthy and healthy option, respectively. Results The results suggested that a difference in consumption was found between the two conditions, with participants in the self-kindness to the mind condition consuming significantly more grapes than those in the self-kindness to the mind and body condition. However, this difference was restricted to those who are usually low consumers of fruit and vegetable. Conclusion The effect of self-kindness towards promoting heathier eating whilst considering the body thus appears to require further investigation. Limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed. Keywords Self-compassion . Self-kindness . Food choices . Healthy eating . Unhealthy eating
Introduction Encouraging healthier food choices appears to be crucial in improving weight management and addressing the current weight-related chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and COVID-19 [1, 2]. Mindfulnessbased interventions have shown to positively influence healthier eating behaviours, and the inclusion of self-compassion to reinforce one’s ability to be less self-critical is a foundational element within mindfulness practices [3, 4]. Recent literature has indicated that self-kindness, an element within self-compassion, may pose as a problematic area in health behaviour research and healthy changes within eating [5, 6]. The present research attempted to identify whether being kind to oneself is helpful (or not) when exploring a mindful eating intervention targeting decision making and consumption [7].
* Misba Hussain [email protected] 1
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences, Birmingham City University, The Curzon Building, 4 Cardigan St., Birmingham B4 7BD, UK
Mindfulness has been described as purposely paying attention to present moment experiences, non-judgementally [8, 9]. Mindful eating, a term that describes the adaptation of mindfulness onto the behaviour of eating, has shown significant changes in weight regulation [7, 10, 11]. Eating is often described as an automatic and over-learned behaviour [12]. For example, people may eat simply in the presence of food, and not necessarily because they are hungry [13]. It has been suggested that engaging in a mindful eating a
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