Kimberly Carrière

Mindfulness-based interventions for weight loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis

An increasing number of studies are investigating the efficacy of mindfulness‐based interventions (MBIs) for weight loss and obesity‐related eating behaviours. However, the results of past reviews are inconsistent.

Effectiveness of traditional meditation retreats: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND An increasing number of studies are investigating traditional meditation retreats. Very little, however, is known about their effectiveness. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of meditation retreats on improving psychological outcomes in general population. DATA SOURCES A systematic review of studies published in journals or as dissertations in PSYCINFO, PUBMED, CINAHL or Web of Science from the first available date until October 22, 2016. REVIEW METHODS A total of 20 papers (21 studies, N=2912) were included. RESULTS Effect-size estimates of outcomes combined suggested that traditional meditation retreats are moderately effective in pre-post analyses (n=19; Hedges g=0.45; 95% CI [0.35, 0.54], p<0.00001) and in analyses comparing retreats to controls (n=14; Hedges g=0.49; 95% CI [0.36, 0.61], p<0.00001). Results were maintained at follow-up. No differences were observed between meditation styles. Results suggested large effects on measures of anxiety, depression and stress, and moderate effects on measures of emotional regulation and quality of life. As to potential mechanisms of actions, results showed large effects on measures of mindfulness and compassion, and moderate effects on measures of acceptance. In addition, changes in mindfulness levels strongly moderated clinical effect sizes. However, heterogeneity was significant among trials, probably due to differences in study designs, types and duration of the retreats and assessed outcomes, limiting therefore the implications of the results. CONCLUSION Meditation retreats are moderately to largely effective in reducing depression, anxiety, stress and in ameliorating the quality of life of participants.

How aging affects self-reports

A lot of information used in aging research relies on self-reports. Surveys or questionnaires are used to assess quality of life, attitudes toward aging, experiences of aging, subjective well-being, symptomatology, health behaviors, financial information, medication adherence, etc. Growing evidence suggests that older and younger respondents are differentially affected by questionnaire features and the cognitive tasks that question answering pose. This research has shown that age-related changes in cognitive and communicative functioning can lead to age-related differences in self-reports that are erroneously interpreted as real age differences in attitudes and behaviors. The current review highlights how the processes underlying respondents’ self-report change as a function of respondents’ age; it updates our previous reviews of this literature.

The Effects of If-Then Plans on Weight Loss: Results of the McGill CHIP Healthy Weight Program Randomized Controlled Trial: Effects of If-Then Plans

The NIH‐developed Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is successful in achieving clinically significant weight loss in individuals with overweight/obesity when delivered one‐on‐one. The group‐based DPP is less effective, with average weight losses of only 3.5%. The objective of this study was to increase weight loss outcomes of the group‐based DPP by integrating habit formation tools (i.e., if‐then plans). This two‐arm randomized controlled trial tested the efficacy of the habit formation–enhanced group‐based DPP compared with the standard group‐based DPP on changes in body weight (primary outcome). This study presents the 3‐ and 12‐month results of this 24‐month trial.