Mindful eating is associated with a better diet quality in the NutriNet-Santé study

Pauline Paolassini-Guesnier; Marion Van Beekum; Emmanuelle Kesse-Guyot; Julia Baudry; Bernard Srour; Alice Bellicha; Rebecca Shankland; Angélique Rodhain; Christophe Leys; Serge Hercberg; Mathilde Touvier; Benjamin Allès; Sandrine Péneau

doi:10.1016/j.appet.2024.107797

Mindful eating is associated with a better diet quality in the NutriNet-Santé study

Appetite. 2024 Dec 3:206:107797. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107797. Online ahead of print.

Affiliations

¹ Université Sorbonne Paris Nord and Université Paris Cité, Inserm, INRAE, CNAM, Center of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), F-93017, Bobigny, France. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Université Sorbonne Paris Nord and Université Paris Cité, Inserm, INRAE, CNAM, Center of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), F-93017, Bobigny, France; Desbrest Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, IDESP UMR UA11 Inserm, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Montpellier Research in Management (MRM), University of Montpellier, Place Eugène Bataillon - CC 19001 - bâtiment 15, 34095, Montpellier, France.
³ Université Sorbonne Paris Nord and Université Paris Cité, Inserm, INRAE, CNAM, Center of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), F-93017, Bobigny, France.
⁴ Laboratoire DIPHE (Développement, Individu, Processus, Handicap, Education), Université Lumière Lyon 2, France.
⁵ Montpellier Research in Management (MRM), University of Montpellier, Place Eugène Bataillon - CC 19001 - bâtiment 15, 34095, Montpellier, France.
⁶ Faculty of Psychology, Educational Sciences, and Speech and Language Therapy, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue Franklin Roosevelt, 50 - CP191, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
⁷ Université Sorbonne Paris Nord and Université Paris Cité, Inserm, INRAE, CNAM, Center of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), F-93017, Bobigny, France; Public Health Department, Avicenne Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Bobigny, France.

PMID: 39638150
DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107797

Abstract

Background: Mindful eating (ME) is a promising approach for promoting healthy eating. Although an association between ME and healthier eating habits has been indicated in the literature, data remain limited. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between ME and several nutritional indicators, including overall diet quality, consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), organic foods, food groups, and intake of energy and nutrients in a large population sample.

Methods: In 2023, 13,759 participants of the NutriNet-Santé cohort study completed the Mind-Eat Scale, assessing total ME (range: 1-5), and its six sub-dimensions, and at least three 24-h dietary records. Multivariable linear regressions were performed to analyze the association between ME (independent variable) and various indices reflecting the nutritional quality of the diet: two scores reflecting the adherence to the French dietary guidelines (sPNNS-GS2) and the Mediterranean diet (MEDI-LITE score), the consumption of UPF (using the NOVA classification), organic foods and food groups, and energy and nutrient intake (dependent variables), adjusted for socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics.

Results: ME was positively associated with French dietary guideline (β = 0.33; 95%CI: 0.30, 0.45) and Mediterranean diet (β = 0.37; 95%CI: 0.30, 0.45) scores and with organic food consumption (β = 9.72; 95%CI: 8.84, 10.60). Furthermore, ME was negatively associated with energy intake (β = -36.79; 95%CI: 50.92, -22.67) and UPF consumption (β = -1.55; 95%CI: 1.81, -1.29). ME was also associated with the intake of several food groups and nutrients.

Conclusion: Overall, ME was associated with a healthier diet. These results suggest that ME could be an interesting lever for promoting healthy eating habits. Further studies are required to better understand the relationships between ME, dietary intake, and health, particularly through the use of longitudinal studies.

Keywords: Cross-sectional study; Epidemiology; Food intake; Mindful eating; Mindfulness; Nutrition; Psychology.