These stages happen in parallel throughout the sessions, but they are introduced to the patients in the following order:

- 1: Cultivating Mindfulness
- 2:  Cultivating Mindful Eating
- 3: Cultivating Emotional Balance
- 4: Cultivating Self-Acceptance

Stages of Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training

- models of food intake regulation that emphasize the interplay of psychological and physiological control processes
- self-regulation theory
- neuro-cognitive and therapeutic models of mindfulness meditation

Theoretical Approaches in Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training

- control of responses to varying emotional states
- ability to make conscious food choices
- awareness of hunger and satiety cues
- difficulty with self-acceptance


Core Issues of Binge Eating Disorder Addressed by Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training

Originally designed for binge eating disorder, MB-EAT has been studied as a treatment for several other eating problems and maladaptive behaviors, including:
- overeating
- obesity
- diet and exercise habits (especially in adolescents)
- perceived stress
- emotional eating
- weight maintenance post-bariatric surgery

The efficacy of MB-EAT has only been considered for these more generalized issues, but not studied in another major eating disorder outside of BED.

Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training as Treatment

Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT) is an intervention created primarily for Binge Eating Disorder (BED). It is a 10 session intervention that involves teaching patients a variety of mindfulness meditation techniques to address core issues of BED. The program structure focuses on 4 stages that cultivate a non judgmental awareness of the internal experience with eating and external patterns or triggers that continue the cycle of binging. 

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- Dialectic Behavior Therapy
- Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training

Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Binge Eating Disorder

- Mindfulness-based stress reduction
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
- Dialectical behavioral therapy
- Acceptance and commitment therapy
- Mindfulness-based relapse prevention
- Mindfulness-based relationship enhancement
- Mindful self-compassion training
- Mindfulness-based eating awareness training

Examples of Mindfulness Interventions (masterlist)

- Mindfulness-based stress reduction
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
- Mindfulness-based relapse prevention
- Mindfulness-based relationship enhancement
- Mindful self-compassion training
- Mindfulness-based eating awareness training
- Mindfulness-based Art Therapy

Examples of Mindfulness-Based Interventions

Kristeller, J. L., & Wolever, R. Q. (2010). Mindfulness-based eating awareness training for treating binge eating disorder: the conceptual foundation. Eating disorders, 19(1), 49-61.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10640266.2011.533605

Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training for Treating Binge Eating Disorder

Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has shown positive outcomes in patients with binge eating disorder (BED), including a decrease in binge behaviors. In a study done in part by Dr. Marsha M. Linehan, a creator of DBT, 89% of the women receiving DBT had stopped binge eating by the end of treatment. Abstinence rates were reduced to 56% at the 6-month follow-up.  More research is needed with larger sample sizes to further support DBT as treatment for BED.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy for treating Binge Eating Disorder

Evidence-based psychotherapy originally developed to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder and chronically suicidal individuals. Treatment focuses on mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy 

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is an educational therapy program with the goal of teaching individuals both formal and informal/everyday mindfulness techniques to help reduce psychological distress.

Standard MBSR programs are 8-weeks in duration consisting of 26 hours with a 6-hour one day class (total of 32 hours). Participants are also expected to practice 45 minutes per day at home during the program.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) centers on the utilization of acceptance, values, mindfulness and conventional behavior change methods with the goal of reducing psychological inflexibility. 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is an 8-week psychotherapy program that includes elements of both Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) with the goal of enhancing one’s psychological well-being through formal/informal meditation practices. 

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy

A combination of relapse prevention which is a cognitive behavioral therapy with mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. It is a mindfulness based aftercare approach to prevent those who have suffered from addiction to relapse.

Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention

- MSC is a Self-Compassion intervention program which aims, over 8 weeks, to provide participants with a variety of tools to increase self-compassion, which they can integrate into their lives according to what works best for them. It works to cultivate self-compassion through sitting practice, day-to-day practices and experiential education. 

Mindful Self-Compassion Program (MSC)

Mindfulness-Based Art Therpay integrates mindfulness meditation skills and aspects of art therapy into an eight week, gender segregated supportive group therapy format.

 Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) 

Mindfulness-based relationship enhancement is a set of techniques to help enhance coping skills for stress when in a relationship. The goal of MBRE is to learn to be mindful by accepting and facing any sort of relationship challenges that you as an individual or as a couple experience, and making time to react and make decisions.

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