Comparison of the Effects of a Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Intervention and Biofeedback Exercises on Attention Control, Executive Functions, and Food Craving in Overweight and Obese Women

The growing number of obese and overweight people is a serious health problem. Obesity and overweight have been noted among the most serious health threats and the epidemics of the third millennium. The aim of the present research was to compare the effects of mindfulness and biofeedback exercises on attention control, executive functions, and food cravings in overweight and obese women. In this quasi-experimental study, 48 women referring to the clinic of the Oil and Gas Company of Bandar Abbas were selected by the convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to the three groups of mindfulness, biofeedback, and control. The participants in these groups were evaluated for attention control, executive functions, and food craving before, after and one month after the interventions. The results of analysis of covariance showed that the intervention groups had higher control attention scores while lower mean scores for executive functions and food craving than the control group. The results indicated the effectiveness of mindfulness and biofeedback exercises on improving executive functions and attention control and reducing craving for foods in overweight and obese women. Therefore, identifying the mechanisms underlying the effects of these two interventions can have positive consequences on the cognitive and psychological abilities of overweight and obese women.