Mindfulness Training to Promote Healthy Diet and Physical Activity in Teens

Unhealthy dietary habits and physical inactivity are important modifiable behavioral risk
factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Both behaviors are often established
during adolescence and are highly prevalent in teenagers. Conversely, the establishment of
healthy dietary and physical activity habits in youth leads to significant health benefits
in adulthood, highlighting the need to develop programs aimed at improving dietary and
physical activity habits in youth. However, thus far, interventions designed to promote
healthy dietary and exercise habits in adolescents have had modest effects on these
behaviors, and there is limited knowledge on how to maintain positive changes in these
habits over time. Current evidence from observational studies suggests that higher
mindfulness levels in adolescents are associated with better eating and exercise habits. In
addition, mindfulness is associated with lower impulsivity and better self-control, which
are important determinants of healthy behaviors in younger populations. Multiple studies
have shown that mindfulness levels increase in response to mindfulness training, and that an
increase in mindfulness mediates the effect of mindfulness interventions on health outcomes.
Consistent with the goals of PA-11-329 "to determine the influence of complementary and
alternative medicine approaches on developing and sustaining healthy behavior habits in
children and youth" this multi-PI application seeks to study the role of mindfulness
training in promoting and maintaining healthy dietary and physical activity habits. We posit
that the addition of mindfulness training to an educational program, compared to an
educational program alone, will improve diet and physical activity, and these changes will
be maintained over time. In addition, we expect to observe a decrease in impulsivity,
indicating that impulsivity may serve as a potential mediator of the effect of the
mindfulness intervention on diet and physical activity. This pilot study will test the
feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a school-delivered, mindfulness + health education
intervention (MHE) compared to health education (HE) alone on dietary habits and physical
activity in 80 adolescents recruited among 9th graders (average age, 14) in 2 high schools
in Massachusetts; each school will be randomized to either the MHE or HE intervention.
Assessments will be performed at baseline, at the end of the intervention (2 months
post-baseline), and at 8- months (end of academic year) follow-up. Innovative aspects of
this proposal include studying the effect of mindfulness training on health behaviors among
youth and the development of a new model linking mindfulness, impulsivity and behavioral
change in this population. The study is significant due to the importance of the behaviors
targeted and to the potential for translation to high school settings if an effect is
demonstrated.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Inclusion criteria: (1) enrolled in 9th grade, (2) no prior mindfulness training; (3)
English-speaking with at least one English-speaking parent/guardian.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Exclusion Criteria: (1) planning to move out of the area within the next 8 months,
(2) unable or unwilling to provide informed assent (adolescent) and parental consent,
(3) diagnosis of a serious psychiatric illness during the past 5 years (4)
developmental delay that would prevent study participation.