Recent Publications

This study reviewed treatments for eating disorders that incorporated both mindfulness-and acceptance-based therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) content. Results indicate that preliminary evidence of the acceptability, feasibility, and potential efficacy of these combined treatments is promising. This research should be replicated in a larger clinical sample to further evaluate combined mindfulness-and acceptance-based therapy and CBT treatments.

This study investigated the prevalence of body dissatisfaction by examining the relationship between social anxiety and exercise. Results indicated that engaging in exercise predicted reduced fear of negative social evaluation. Additionally, body dissatisfaction combined with either anxiety around social interaction or fear of negative social evaluation increased exercise behaviors.

This study examined resilience as a protective factor against eating disorder psychopathology in Iran using network analysis to examine an eating disorder and resilience network in an Iranian college student sample. Results indicate that processes related to managing stress and binge eating appear to maintain the association between eating disorder symptoms and resilience processes.

This study reviewed treatments for eating disorders that incorporated both mindfulness-and acceptance-based therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) content. Results indicate that preliminary evidence of the acceptability, feasibility, and potential efficacy of these combined treatments is promising. This research should be replicated in a larger clinical sample to further evaluate combined mindfulness-and acceptance-based therapy and CBT treatments.

This study investigated the relationship between mindfulness, its five facets, and binge eating symptoms in female college students. Results demonstrated that higher levels of acting with awareness, non-judgment, and non-reactivity were correlated with lower levels of binge eating symptoms. The observing and describing facets were not significantly correlated with binge eating symptoms. This research should be replicated in a larger clinical sample to further understand the relationship between mindfulness and binge eating symptoms.

This study prospectively assessed risk factors of dietary lapse in the context of a commercial mobile health intervention. Resulted indicated that the likelihood of lapse increased by 73% for every incremental increase in urges and cravings, 65% for alcohol consumption, and 21% for tiredness, and decreased by 23% and 16% for every incremental increase in confidence and in planning, respectively.

In this study, we used a network analysis to assess which specific mindfulness processes connect to specific ED symptoms. We identified that bridge nodes connecting higher mindfulness processes with lower ED symptoms included: the eating disorder symptom, being uncomfortable about others seeing one eat, and the mindfulness process, not criticizing oneself for having irrational/inappropriate emotions. Bridge nodes connecting higher mindfulness processes with higher ED symptoms included: noticing sensations of the body moving when walking and noticing how food/drinks affect thoughts, bodily sensations, and emotions. These findings suggest that emotion regulation processes may drive the link between mindfulness and ED symptoms.. Check out the full-study here.

In this invited commentary, Dr. Sala discusses future research goals for the treatment of compulsive exercise in individuals with eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia.

This study used ecological momentary assessment to examine the extent to which momentary mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity varied within-person, and were associated with craving and likelihood of dietary lapse among weight-loss-seeking individuals with overweight/obesity prior to starting a weight loss program. Results indicated that mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity correlated with lower craving and likelihood of dietary lapse.

This study utilized experience sampling to test whether awareness was related to craving, positive and negative affect, and smoking among smokers who were in treatment for smoking cessation. Experience sampling is ideal for gathering systematic self-reports of behaviors, emotions, or experiences as they occur in real-time in the individual’s natural environment. Results demonstrated that higher awareness was associated with higher positive affect, lower craving, and lower negative affect. These findings suggest that learning to increase awareness, such as through mindfulness training and practice, may benefit smokers in treatment. Check out the full-study here. 

This study aimed to evaluate how mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) - via increasing either mindful awareness or mindful acceptance - may mobilize eight associative-learning change mechanisms. Given that Eating Disorders (EDs) are defined as adaptive processes of child, we aimed to investigate whether Pavlovian and operant learning would be particularly effective in mobilizing change. Furthermore, we discussed similarities and differences between MBIs and CBT approaches for EDs and presented future research recommendations for the development and evaluation of MBI interventions for EDs and testing of mechanisms and patient-treatment matching hypotheses. Check out the full-study here.

This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of automated digital interventions (ADIs) for improving the outcomes of human coach-delivered weight loss treatment. Results revealed a mean difference in weight change between conditions, which supports the use of ADIs to augment coach-delivered behavioral weight loss treatment. Additionally, results suggest that ADIs have the greatest impact when coaching is relatively low in either frequency or duration.

This study utilized ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine the momentary relationships between body dissatisfaction, affect, and weight control behaviors in female college students. EMA is an ideal methodology for studying momentary constructs in daily life. Results demonstrated that greater body dissatisfaction significantly predicted lower subsequent positive affect and higher subsequent negative affect, highlighting the importance of targeting body dissatisfaction to improve affect. Check out the full-study here.

We examined predictors of weight loss within VA Connecticut Healthcare System’s (VACT) behavioral weight management program, MOVE!®. A higher number of sessions attended and teleconferencing in from a community-based outpatient clinic were associated with higher weight-loss. Results suggest that a dose-response relationship within MOVE!, where participants who attended more sessions lost more weight. Teleconferencing in from CBOCs was an effective manner to deliver MOVE!. Check out the full study here.

In this parallel two-arm pilot randomized control trial, we aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an audio-recorded mindfulness-based intervention for physically under-active adults. We examined whether the intervention results in a clinically meaningful difference in physical activity. Results suggest that the audio-recorded mindfulness-based physical activity intervention is a promising approach to increasing physical activity. Furthermore, this audio-recorded mindfulness-based intervention has good dissemination potential. Check out the full study here. 

This study used experience sampling to test the relationship between awareness and craving among smokers being treated for smoking cessation. Results indicated that higher awareness was correlated with lower craving.

We examined the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and analyzed associations between ACEs and measures of weight, eating behaviors and quality of life in Veterans seeking weight loss. Lower physical activity, lower quality of life, and lower quality of life associated with weight were associated with ACEs, but not weight, weight control strategies, binge eating, or alcohol use. Overall, ACEs appear to be common among Veterans looking for weight loss, especially among female Veterans. Check out the full study here.

This study examined relationships between momentary affect and weight weight control behaviors in healthy college-age women. Resulted indicated that average daily negative affect was inversely associated with daily engagement in unhealthy weight control behaviors, but was not associated with healthy weight control behaviors. Average daily positive affect was not associated with daily engagement in healthy or unhealthy weight control behaviors.

In this study, we explored the associations between mindfulness facets and body checking, and how these relationships are moderated by eating disorder psychopathology. We found that most mindfulness facets showed potential as processes that could be altered to reduce body checking, particularly for individuals higher in ED psychopathology. Check out the full study here

We conducted a meta-analysis that examined the strength of the associations between mindfulness and health behaviors. We found that mindfulness had a positive and small association with health-behaviors. Effects were larger for health promoting behaviors (e.g., eating behaviors, physical activity, sleep), the acting with awareness facet of mindfulness, and samples involving psychiatric patients. Check out the full-study here 

This meta-analysis examined the associations between mindfulness and eating disorder psychopathology using a multi-level random-effects model to estimate summary study-level effect sizes. Results indicated that mindfulness was negatively associated with eating disorder psychopathology, particularly for binge eating, emotional/external eating, and body dissatisfaction as well as the acting with awareness and nonjudging facets.

In this study, we examined how avoidance coping (e.g., distraction, avoidance of emotions) during mealtimes predicts eating disorder symptoms in real-time. We found that although distraction during meals predicted a reduction in anxiety in the moment, both distraction and avoidance of emotions predicted increases in excessive exercise in the short-term. Additionally, higher avoidance coping predicted increases in bulimic symptoms at 1-month follow-up.  Check out the full-study here

In this study, we examined the association between aspects of mindfulness and eating disorder symptoms over time. We found that higher acting with awareness predicted lower eating disorder symptoms over time. Check out the full-study here

In this study, we examined the real-time association between repetitive negative thinking (e.g., worry, rumination) and eating pathology in individuals with eating disorders. Using ecological momentary assessment, we found that higher momentary repetitive negative thinking predicted higher subsequent weighing. We also found that higher repetitive negative thinking predicted higher eating disorder symptoms at one-month follow-up. Check out the full study here