Emotional EatingMB-EERNCT07020403
Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Intervention Program
A study testing Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction Program (MB-EER) in people with Emotional Eating, run by tuğba çolak at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aims to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention program called the Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction (MB-EER) Program. The program is designed to reduce emotional eating behaviors in adults. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Emotional Eating
- What is being tested?
- Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction Program (MB-EER)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 15 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 22 May 2023to 23 Nov 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged 18 and older
- Individuals reporting high levels of emotional eating
- Willingness to participate in a 7-week online intervention program
- Access to a computer and stable internet connection
- Completion of informed consent form
Who cannot join
- Current diagnosis of an eating disorder (e.g., bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder)
- Diagnosis of a chronic medical condition that affects appetite (e.g., diabetes, thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto's disease)
- Pregnancy
- Inability to commit to regular attendance in the 7-week program
- Participation in another psychological intervention during the study period
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Development and Evaluation of a Mindfulness-Based on Emotional Eating Reduction Program
This study aims to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention program called the Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction (MB-EER) Program. The program is designed to reduce emotional eating behaviors in adults. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group attended a 7-week online program with weekly sessions that included psychoeducation, mindfulness exercises (such as body scan and breath awareness), experiential activities, and group discussions. Data were collected at three time points: before the intervention, after the 7th week, and at a 3-month follow-up. Emotional eating, mindful eating, and emotional appetite levels were measured. Results showed that the MB-EER program effectively reduced emotional eating and emotional appetite while increasing mindful eating.
Read the detailed description
This study aims to develop and evaluate a mindfulness-based intervention program (MB-EER) designed to reduce emotional eating behavior. The program was structured based on needs analyses conducted with experts and individuals with emotional eating experiences.
The MB-EER Program consists of 7 weekly sessions, each lasting approximately 2 hours, conducted online. Each session includes psychoeducational content, mindfulness-based practices (e.g., breath awareness, body scan), experiential activities, and group sharing.
Session Overview:
Focus on How You Eat - Differentiating emotional eating from physical hunger; raisin exercise
Recognizing Autopilot - Emotional triggers and automatic eating behaviors
Attention to Cues - Internal and external stimuli influencing eating behavior
Hunger and Fullness Signals - Awareness of body signals; water-drinking practice
Body Awareness and Self-Compassion - Developing supportive attitudes toward the body
Cultural Beliefs and Eating History - Social rules and learned eating habits
Maintenance and Reflection - Ensuring sustainability of skills, personal awareness
Research Design:
This study used a mixed-methods design, including both the development and experimental evaluation of the program:
Program Development Phase
Experimental Evaluation Phase
Quantitative design:
The experimental phase used a true experimental pre-test-post-test-follow-up control group design. Qualitative data were embedded throughout the process using semi-structured forms.
Participant Selection and Assignment:
Out of 135 initial applicants, Emotional Eating Scale (EES) scores were calculated and converted into Z scores using SPSS, since the scale lacks a clinical cut-off. 91 participants falling within ±2 SD were considered eligible and assessed for exclusion criteria.
8 individuals were excluded due to diagnosed eating disorders (e.g., bulimia, binge eating)
12 were excluded due to chronic conditions affecting appetite regulation (e.g., Hashimoto's, diabetes, thyroid)
2 individuals could not commit to the program
From the remaining 69 eligible participants, 40 were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups (20 each). However, due to dropouts during the process:
15 participants in the experimental group
15 participants in the control group completed the full study process and provided data at all time points.
Implementation:
The MB-EER program was delivered to the experimental group by the lead researcher.
Sessions were held online (Zoom) over 7 weeks, once per week.
The control group received no intervention.
All participants completed measurements at three points:
Pre-test (before the intervention)
Post-test (end of Week 7)
Follow-up test (3 months later)
Data Collection Instruments:
Emotional Eating Scale (EES-30)
Mindful Eating Scale (MES-30)
Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EAQ-22)
Data Analysis:
Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS v26.0
Parametric tests were used as normality assumptions were met
Statistical procedures included:
Two-factor mixed ANOVA
Wilks' Lambda multivariate repeated measures (MANOVA)
Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons
Qualitative data were evaluated using content and descriptive analysis
Findings:
The main hypothesis of the study was that the MB-EER Program is effective in reducing emotional eating and emotional appetite and improving mindful eating. This hypothesis was tested by comparing pre-, post-, and follow-up scores between experimental and control groups.
- Conditions
- Emotional Eating
- Being tested
- Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction Program (MB-EER)
- Keywords
- Emotional Eating, Mindfulness, Emotional Appetite, Mindful Eating
- Medical subject headings
- Emotional Eating
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction Program (MB-EER)Behavioural
Also called MB-EER
The MB-EER program was delivered to participants in the intervention arm over 7 weeks. Each session lasted 2 hours and was conducted weekly via Zoom. Participants attended in small groups, and sessions were led by trained facilitators. The intervention focused on guided mindfulness practices, mindful eating exercises, and group discussions.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| MB-EER Intervention Group | Experimental | Participants in this group received the 7-week Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction (MB-EER) Program. The intervention was delivered online via Zoom and included weekly 2-hour sessions focusing on mindful eating practices, emotional regulation, and body awareness. Receives: Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction Program (MB-EER) |
| Assessment-Only Control Group | No intervention | Participants in this group received no intervention during the study period. They completed the same assessments at baseline, post-test, and 3-month follow-up as the intervention group. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Emotional Eating Score (EES-30) from Baseline to Follow-up
The scale developed by Bilgen (2018) was adapted to reveal the relationship between emotions and eating. The scale consists of 4 sub-dimensions (Eating in Tense Situations, Eating to Cope with Negative Emotions, Self-Control, and Control in the Face of Stimuli). The scale is scored on a 5-point Likert scale, and the items consist of "Never (1)", "Rarely (2)", Sometimes (3)", 'Often (4)' and 'Always (5)' options. Both the sub-dimensions and the whole scale give a total score, and it is concluded that the higher the score obtained from the scale, the higher the emotional eating tendencies. The highest score that can be obtained from the scale is 150, and the lowest score is 30. The scale has a total of 30 items and three reverse-coded items. The Cronbach's Alpha internal consistency coefficient of the scale for this study was calculated as .92.
Measured: Change from Baseline (Week 0) to Post-test (Week 7) and Follow-up (Week 12)
Mindful eating questionnaire (MEQ-30)
The Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ) is a 30-item self-report scale adapted to Turkish by Köse et al. (2016). It includes seven subscales: Disinhibition, Emotional Eating, Eating Control, Focusing, Eating Discipline, Mindfulness, and Interference. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Never, 5 = Always). Higher scores indicate greater mindful eating. Twenty items are reverse-coded. Cronbach's alpha = .72.
Measured: Change from Baseline (Week 0) to Post-test (Week 7) and Follow-up (Week 12)
Emotional appetite questionnaire (EAQ-22)
The Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EAQ-22), validated in Turkish by Demirel et al. (2014), is a 22-item self-report scale assessing appetite changes in response to emotional states and situations. Items are rated from 1 to 9: 1-4 = less appetite, 5 = no change, 6-9 = more appetite. Subscales include emotions (14 items) and situations (8 items), each split into positive and negative categories. Higher scores indicate greater emotional appetite. Cronbach's alpha = .71.
Measured: Change from Baseline (Week 0) to Post-test (Week 7) and Follow-up (Week 12)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Jun 2025
- Study start22 May 2023
- Primary completion22 Aug 2023
- Study completion23 Nov 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Emotional EatingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This study was conducted using a parallel-group experimental design with random assignment. Participants were divided into an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group received a 7-week Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction (MB-EER) Program, while the control group received no intervention. Assessments were conducted at pre-test, post-test, and 3-month follow-up.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- tuğba çolak
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, tuğba çolak, Duzce University
- Investigators
- Tuğba Seda Çolak Turan, Principal investigator, tugbacolak@duzce.edu.tr
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07020403
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- DU-MBEER-2024
- Acronym
- MB-EER
- Status last verified
- Jun 2025
- First submitted
- 9 May 2025
- Last updated
- 13 Jun 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Deidentified individual participant data (IPD) will be shared, including raw scores from the Emotional Eating Scale (EES-30), Mindful Eating Scale (MES-30), and Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EAQ-22) collected at three time points (pre-test, post-test, and 3-month follow-up). Data will be available to qualified researchers upon request via Open Science Framework at \[https://osf.io/u3wqk/\].
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Jun 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Development and Evaluation of a Mindfulness-Based on Emotional Eating Reduction Program
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07020403
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MB-EER / DU-MBEER-2024
- Conditions
- Emotional Eating
- Keywords
- Emotional Eating, Mindfulness, Emotional Appetite, Mindful Eating
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- tuğba çolakUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 22 May 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 22 Aug 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 23 Nov 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 13 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention program called the Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction (MB-EER) Program. The program is designed to reduce emotional eating behaviors in adults. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group attended a 7-week online program with weekly sessions that included psychoeducation, mindfulness exercises (such as body scan and breath awareness), experiential activities, and group discussions. Data were collected at three time points: before the intervention, after the 7th week, and at a 3-month follow-up. Emotional eating, mindful eating, and emotional appetite levels were measured. Results showed that the MB-EER program effectively reduced emotional eating and emotional appetite while increasing mindful eating.
Detailed description
This study aims to develop and evaluate a mindfulness-based intervention program (MB-EER) designed to reduce emotional eating behavior. The program was structured based on needs analyses conducted with experts and individuals with emotional eating experiences.
The MB-EER Program consists of 7 weekly sessions, each lasting approximately 2 hours, conducted online. Each session includes psychoeducational content, mindfulness-based practices (e.g., breath awareness, body scan), experiential activities, and group sharing.
Session Overview:
Focus on How You Eat - Differentiating emotional eating from physical hunger; raisin exercise
Recognizing Autopilot - Emotional triggers and automatic eating behaviors
Attention to Cues - Internal and external stimuli influencing eating behavior
Hunger and Fullness Signals - Awareness of body signals; water-drinking practice
Body Awareness and Self-Compassion - Developing supportive attitudes toward the body
Cultural Beliefs and Eating History - Social rules and learned eating habits
Maintenance and Reflection - Ensuring sustainability of skills, personal awareness
Research Design:
This study used a mixed-methods design, including both the development and experimental evaluation of the program:
Program Development Phase
Experimental Evaluation Phase
Quantitative design:
The experimental phase used a true experimental pre-test-post-test-follow-up control group design. Qualitative data were embedded throughout the process using semi-structured forms.
Participant Selection and Assignment:
Out of 135 initial applicants, Emotional Eating Scale (EES) scores were calculated and converted into Z scores using SPSS, since the scale lacks a clinical cut-off. 91 participants falling within ±2 SD were considered eligible and assessed for exclusion criteria.
8 individuals were excluded due to diagnosed eating disorders (e.g., bulimia, binge eating)
12 were excluded due to chronic conditions affecting appetite regulation (e.g., Hashimoto's, diabetes, thyroid)
2 individuals could not commit to the program
From the remaining 69 eligible participants, 40 were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups (20 each). However, due to dropouts during the process:
15 participants in the experimental group
15 participants in the control group completed the full study process and provided data at all time points.
Implementation:
The MB-EER program was delivered to the experimental group by the lead researcher.
Sessions were held online (Zoom) over 7 weeks, once per week.
The control group received no intervention.
All participants completed measurements at three points:
Pre-test (before the intervention)
Post-test (end of Week 7)
Follow-up test (3 months later)
Data Collection Instruments:
Emotional Eating Scale (EES-30)
Mindful Eating Scale (MES-30)
Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EAQ-22)
Data Analysis:
Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS v26.0
Parametric tests were used as normality assumptions were met
Statistical procedures included:
Two-factor mixed ANOVA
Wilks' Lambda multivariate repeated measures (MANOVA)
Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons
Qualitative data were evaluated using content and descriptive analysis
Findings:
The main hypothesis of the study was that the MB-EER Program is effective in reducing emotional eating and emotional appetite and improving mindful eating. This hypothesis was tested by comparing pre-, post-, and follow-up scores between experimental and control groups.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This study was conducted using a parallel-group experimental design with random assignment. Participants were divided into an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group received a 7-week Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction (MB-EER) Program, while the control group received no intervention. Assessments were conducted at pre-test, post-test, and 3-month follow-up.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| MB-EER Intervention Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction Program (MB-EER)Participants in this group received the 7-week Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction (MB-EER) Program. The intervention was delivered online via Zoom and included weekly 2-hour sessions focusing on mindful eating practices, emotional regulation, and body awareness. |
| Assessment-Only Control Group | No intervention | –Participants in this group received no intervention during the study period. They completed the same assessments at baseline, post-test, and 3-month follow-up as the intervention group. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Adults aged 18 and older
- Individuals reporting high levels of emotional eating
- Willingness to participate in a 7-week online intervention program
- Access to a computer and stable internet connection
- Completion of informed consent form
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Current diagnosis of an eating disorder (e.g., bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder)
- Diagnosis of a chronic medical condition that affects appetite (e.g., diabetes, thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto's disease)
- Pregnancy
- Inability to commit to regular attendance in the 7-week program
- Participation in another psychological intervention during the study period
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction Program (MB-EER)Also: MB-EERThe MB-EER program was delivered to participants in the intervention arm over 7 weeks. Each session lasted 2 hours and was conducted weekly via Zoom. Participants attended in small groups, and sessions were led by trained facilitators. The intervention focused on guided mindfulness practices, mindful eating exercises, and group discussions. | Behavioural | MB-EER Intervention Group |
Primary outcome
Change in Emotional Eating Score (EES-30) from Baseline to Follow-up
Time frame: Change from Baseline (Week 0) to Post-test (Week 7) and Follow-up (Week 12)
The scale developed by Bilgen (2018) was adapted to reveal the relationship between emotions and eating. The scale consists of 4 sub-dimensions (Eating in Tense Situations, Eating to Cope with Negative Emotions, Self-Control, and Control in the Face of Stimuli). The scale is scored on a 5-point Likert scale, and the items consist of "Never (1)", "Rarely (2)", Sometimes (3)", 'Often (4)' and 'Always (5)' options. Both the sub-dimensions and the whole scale give a total score, and it is concluded that the higher the score obtained from the scale, the higher the emotional eating tendencies. The highest score that can be obtained from the scale is 150, and the lowest score is 30. The scale has a total of 30 items and three reverse-coded items. The Cronbach's Alpha internal consistency coefficient of the scale for this study was calculated as .92.
Mindful eating questionnaire (MEQ-30)
Time frame: Change from Baseline (Week 0) to Post-test (Week 7) and Follow-up (Week 12)
The Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ) is a 30-item self-report scale adapted to Turkish by Köse et al. (2016). It includes seven subscales: Disinhibition, Emotional Eating, Eating Control, Focusing, Eating Discipline, Mindfulness, and Interference. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Never, 5 = Always). Higher scores indicate greater mindful eating. Twenty items are reverse-coded. Cronbach's alpha = .72.
Emotional appetite questionnaire (EAQ-22)
Time frame: Change from Baseline (Week 0) to Post-test (Week 7) and Follow-up (Week 12)
The Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EAQ-22), validated in Turkish by Demirel et al. (2014), is a 22-item self-report scale assessing appetite changes in response to emotional states and situations. Items are rated from 1 to 9: 1-4 = less appetite, 5 = no change, 6-9 = more appetite. Subscales include emotions (14 items) and situations (8 items), each split into positive and negative categories. Higher scores indicate greater emotional appetite. Cronbach's alpha = .71.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Jun 2025.
- Project page for the "Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction (MB-EER) Program" including study protocol, data sharing plan, and materials.Link provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Deidentified individual participant data (IPD) will be shared, including raw scores from the Emotional Eating Scale (EES-30), Mindful Eating Scale (MES-30), and Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EAQ-22) collected at three time points (pre-test, post-test, and 3-month follow-up). Data will be available to qualified researchers upon request via Open Science Framework at [https://osf.io/u3wqk/].
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Tuğba Seda Çolak Turan principal investigator
tugbacolak@duzce.edu.tr
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction Program (MB-EER) in people with Emotional Eating, run by tuğba çolak at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Jun 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Emotional Eating Score (EES-30) from Baseline to Follow-up (time frame: Change from Baseline (Week 0) to Post-test (Week 7) and Follow-up (Week 12)). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Jun 2025.