(Re)defining mindful eating into mindful eating behaviour to advance scientific enquiry

Abstract

Background: Mindful eating has exceeded two decades of scientific enquiry but defining mindful eating has proven to be quite challenging. Aim: The inability to clearly define mindful eating led to variations in the description in academic and clinical literature, different psychometric tools and the development of a field that is lacking the preciseness that is needed to advance mindful eating – and the associated interventions – onto a level that is simple to comprehend and implement in practice. Methods: Drawing from traditional and contemporary mindfulness and mindful eating literature, this manuscript will attempt to define and describe mindful eating in the context of eating behaviours. Results: The review of the literature has resulted in challenging areas around the main principles that should be included in defining the term mindful eating, and highlights the distinction between mindfulness and mindful eating, as well as behaviour and decision making within the context of mindful eating. Conclusion: In a field that is lacking transparency and methodological rigour, mindful eating behaviour is detailed as a new beginning in conducting precise experimental research and evidence-based interventions for clinical and non-clinical use.