Which facets of mindfulness are related to problematic eating among patients seeking bariatric surgery?

• Examined relationship of mindfulness to problem eating with 820 bariatric patients
• Greater mindfulness was related to less binge and emotional eating.
• Acting with awareness was a particularly strong predictor of lower problem eating.
• Mindfulness was less consistently related to habitual overeating and grazing.
• Greater observing sometimes related to greater eating problems.

There has been growing research indicating the potential positive benefits of mindfulness-based interventions for obesity, but few studies have examined the relationship of mindfulness processes to obesity-related behaviors, particularly among clinical populations such as bariatric surgery candidates. The current study examined the relationship of specific mindfulness facets to a variety of problematic eating behaviors assessed through diagnostic interviews in a clinical sample of 820 patients seeking bariatric surgery. Results indicated that greater mindfulness on specific facets, particularly acting with awareness, was related to less binge and emotional eating. Greater mindfulness was also related, though less consistently, to less habitual overeating and grazing. The observing facet was generally unrelated to problematic eating, but in a few cases being more observant related to having greater eating problems. The results of the study and future directions are discussed in relation to research on problematic eating in obesity and mindfulness-based interventions.