Mindfulness as a strategy for weightloss

With the modern lifestyle and the subsequent changes in the food habits and exercising patterns, weight issues are extremely common these days. Moreover, when it is a time of celebrations which is food-filled, control over weight is absolutely impossible. Many of us have tried and failed with different techniques for weight loss and are still trying to find which method is the most effective. New studies show a beacon of light to those struggling with weight and these studies suggest mindfulness as the best method for maintaining a healthy weight. This is not just something that affects the physical wellness of the person but also has quite a lot of metal benefits too as it is helpful in reducing the stress related to weight issues.  

Mindfulness can be extremely effective in enhancing the immune response of a person as it reduces the symptoms of anxiety and boost the cognitive functioning of a person. The basic principle behind mindfulness is living in the present completely being aware about the external stimuli and the effect of those on the body and mind.  It also helps in keeping away those thoughts which are unnecessary and harmful for living in the present. As a result, it can improve the enjoyment of the moment and thereby reduce the effects of stress in life.

A new study conducted by the  University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire National Health Services Trust in the United Kingdom  along with some other clinical and research institutions prove that mindfulness can be effective in the control of body weight too. The study was aimed at reducing problematic eating behavior with mindfulness and thereby attaining a control over the body weight. The researchers worked with 53 individuals undergoing a weight management program of which 33 were given sessions on mindfulness (in eating and other aspects of life). The study found that in the following six months, those given sessions on mindfulness lost almost 6.6 pounds on an average where as it was it just an average weight loss of 2 pounds reported in those who were not given the session on mindfulness.    

The study can open new horizons in weight management and moreover, it seems to be not just a weight loss process, but rather a drive towards a healthy life wherein the individual is able to enjoy every moment of his or her life without being stressed out.