Mindful Construal Diaries: Can the MCD Increase Mindfulness and Mindful Eating in Bariatric Surgery Patients

(BSP = Bariatric surgery patients) The MCD is an intervention that consists of 10 questions an individual must consider prior to eating, and revisit while eating. Mindfulness refers to being consciously aware in the present moment and being accepting to emotions, and in practice, ME can be defined as an awareness to thoughts, feelings and emotions related to current food consumption (e.g., portion size, feelings of hunger/satiety, and healthfulness of food). Being underpinned by both concepts, the MCD intervention prompts individuals to consider aspects of their meal by generating a more focused perspective to the experience of eating. Current applications of mindfulness in health-related settings are promising, benefits include long-term weight-loss, and decreases in symptoms associated with physical and psychiatric disorders. Although the MCD is similarly associated with weight-loss, existing literature on its utility within the bariatric surgery population is scant. Furthermore, as weight regain is often observed post-surgery, it is important to explore how the MCD can help BSP overcome this obstacles. Furthermore, as the MCD is yet to be applied to BSP, this research will also establish whether the MCD is effective in promoting mindfulness, ME and subsequent weight-loss in this population. The potential benefits of this research are broad, as it can help establish a novel approach to effective weight-loss in BSP, and equip health care practitioners with a cost-effective weight-loss intervention. This research will employ a mixed-method design, where participants will be asked to maintain use of the MCD when eating for a three month period, and at their usual care visit complete questionnaires and an interview. Participants will be recruited from Heartland Hospital's Bariatric Clinic.