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Mental HealthNCT07573410

Effects of Mindful Eating on Female Nutrition Students

A study testing "Eat for Life" Mindful Eating Program and Standard Nutritional Guidance in people with Mental Health and Body Image, run by Federal University of Uberlandia at 1 site in Brazil.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this pilot randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a mindful eating intervention ("Eat for Life") on eating behavior, body image, and mental health in female nutrition students. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Mental Health, Body Image, Feeding Behavior
What is being tested?
"Eat for Life" Mindful Eating Program and Standard Nutritional Guidance
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
88 participants
Where
1 siteBrazil
Study dates
1 Jun 2026to 1 Dec 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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
  • Women only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Female gender
  • Active enrollment in the Nutrition undergraduate program at the time of data collection
  • Agreement to participate in the study

Who cannot join

  • Diagnosis of severe cognitive or mental disorders; Regular practice (at least once a week in the last six months) of meditation, yoga, or mindfulness
  • Regular practice (at least once a week in the last six months) of meditation, yoga, or mindfulness

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Nilander P Nunes Filho, B.Sc contact

+55(34)996897015

nilanderfilho@gmail.com

Brazil1 site
  • Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU) - Campus Umuarama

    Uberlândia, Minas Gerais (MG), 38405-318

    Nilander P Nunes Filho, B.Sc.

Other trials in Brazil

About this study

Official title: Efficacy of a Mindful Eating Intervention on Eating Behavior, Body Image, and Mental Health in Female Nutrition Students: a Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial

The goal of this pilot randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a mindful eating intervention ("Eat for Life") on eating behavior, body image, and mental health in female nutrition students. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does a mindful eating intervention reduce disordered eating behaviors in female nutrition students? Does the intervention improve body appreciation, mindfulness levels, and mental health?

Researchers will compare an active control group receiving nutritional guidance to an intervention group participating in the "Eat for Life" mindful eating program to see if the mindful eating intervention reduces disordered eating behaviors and improves overall psychological well-being and body appreciation.

Read more

Participants will: Complete online questionnaires evaluating eating behavior, mindfulness, mental health, and body image at three distinct time points: before the intervention (baseline), post-intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up.

If assigned to the intervention group, attend 12 weekly face-to-face mindful eating sessions lasting approximately two hours each. If assigned to the active control group, receive weekly informative leaflets via WhatsApp with nutritional guidance based on the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population for 12 weeks

Read the detailed description

Female nutrition students are particularly vulnerable to disordered eating, mental health distress (such as anxiety and depression), and body image dissatisfaction due to intense academic and sociocultural pressures. The mindful eating protocol "Eat for Life" aims to address these issues by promoting mindfulness, emotional regulation, self-compassion, and body appreciation. Despite its potential, there is a lack of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of this specific protocol in this population.

This parallel-group, pilot randomized clinical trial aims to fill this gap, strictly adhering to the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) guidelines. Participants will be allocated into two distinct groups using a computerized random number generator (www.randomizar.org).

Study Procedures and Data Management: Data collection will be conducted via online forms at three specific time points: baseline, 12 weeks (post-intervention), and a 3-month follow-up. To ensure rigorous data security and quality assurance in compliance with the Brazilian General Data Protection Law (LGPD), all collected data will be exported and stored securely in offline Excel spreadsheets. Only the core research team will have access to this information, and all records will be permanently destroyed after five years to guarantee confidentiality

Sample Size Assessment: The sample size was calculated using G*Power software. To detect a moderate effect size (f = 0.15) with a minimum statistical power of 80% and a 5% significance level across two groups and three measurement times, a minimum of 74 participants is required. Anticipating a potential 20% attrition rate (loss to follow-up), the final target sample size was established at 88 participants, meaning 44 individuals randomly distributed to each arm.

Statistical Analysis Plan: To minimize bias, all statistical analyses will be performed by an independent researcher blinded to the group allocations. The analyses will be conducted using STATA and R software. Descriptive statistics will be presented as means and standard deviations for continuous variables, and as absolute and relative frequencies for categorical data. Data normality will be assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. For comparisons between groups, parametric (Student's t-test) or non-parametric (Mann-Whitney test) tests will be applied based on the data distribution. Correlation analyses will utilize Pearson or Spearman tests, and all tests will adopt a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05). Methodological quality will also be evaluated using the CONSORT checklist.

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Being tested
"Eat for Life" Mindful Eating Program, Standard Nutritional Guidance
Keywords
mindful eating, feeding behavior, Students, mental health
Medical subject headings
Psychological Well-Being, Feeding Behavior, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Anxiety Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • "Eat for Life" Mindful Eating ProgramBehavioural

    A 12-week face-to-face mindful eating behavioral intervention. Participants will attend weekly sessions of approximately two hours led by a certified researcher. The program integrates formal mindfulness practices, group discussions, and reflections on personal values, self-compassion, body acceptance, and body appreciation to promote a conscious relationship with food, emotions, and the body.

  • Standard Nutritional GuidanceBehavioural

    An active control intervention consisting of standard nutritional education. Participants will receive informative leaflets weekly via WhatsApp over a 12-week period. The content is based on the "Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population" (Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira), providing standard health and nutrition information without any mindfulness or mindful eating components.

Study groups in NCT07573410
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Experimental: Eat for Life ProgramExperimentalParticipants assigned to this arm will undergo the "Eat for Life" mindful eating program. This face-to-face intervention lasts for 12 weeks, with weekly sessions of approximately two hours conducted by a certified researcher. The protocol includes formal mindfulness practices, group discussions, and reflections on personal values, body acceptance, and body appreciation.
Receives: Behavioral: "Eat for Life" Mindful Eating Program
Active Comparator: Nutritional GuidanceActive comparatorParticipants assigned to this arm will receive standard nutritional guidance. Informational leaflets based on the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population will be sent weekly via WhatsApp over a concurrent 12-week period.
Receives: Behavioral: Standard Nutritional Guidance

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in Disordered Eating Attitudes and Behaviors (EAT-26)

    Assessed using the validated Brazilian Portuguese version of the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26). Each item is answered on a 6-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 0 to 78. Higher scores indicate greater severity of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. A score of 21 or above indicates a positive screening for disordered eating (higher score = worse outcome).

    Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention), Week 12 (immediately post-intervention), and 3 months post-intervention (follow-up).

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Change in Intuitive Eating Behaviors (IES-2)

    Assessed using the validated Brazilian Portuguese version of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2). The 23-item scale measures an individual's tendency to follow physical hunger and satiety cues rather than emotional cues, encompassing four factors. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1-5), with total scores ranging from 23 to 115. Higher scores indicate greater alignment with intuitive eating principles (higher score = better outcome).

    Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention), Week 12 (immediately post-intervention), and 3 months post-intervention (follow-up)

  2. Change in Mindfulness Levels (FFMQ)

    Assessed using the validated Brazilian Portuguese version of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-BR). The FFMQ-BR consists of 39 items structured into seven factors, all demonstrating good internal consistency. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1-5), with total scores ranging from 39 to 195. Higher scores indicate greater dispositional mindfulness (higher score = better outcome).

    Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention), Week 12 (immediately post-intervention), and 3 months post-intervention (follow-up)

  3. Change in Mental Health Symptoms (DASS-21)

    Assessed using the validated Brazilian Portuguese version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). The DASS-21 is a 21-item instrument assessing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress across three subscales of seven items each. Subscale scores are calculated as the sum of seven items multiplied by two, yielding a range of 0 to 42 per subscale. Scores correspond to severity levels ranging from normal to extremely severe. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity (higher score = worse outcome). Subscale scores are reported separately.

    Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention), Week 12 (immediately post-intervention), and 3 months post-intervention (follow-up)

  4. Change in Body Appreciation (BAS-2)

    Assessed using the validated Brazilian Portuguese version of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2). The 10-item scale evaluates acceptance, favorable opinions, and respect toward one's own body, demonstrating a one-dimensional structure with adequate internal consistency and construct validity. The total score is calculated as the mean of all items, ranging from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater body appreciation (higher score = better outcome).

    Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention), Week 12 (immediately post-intervention), and 3 months post-intervention (follow-up)

  5. Change in Disordered Eating Attitudes (DEAS)

    Assessed using the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Disordered Eating Attitude Scale (DEAS). The DEAS is a 25-item questionnaire that assesses the individual's eating attitudes, evaluating distorted beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and relationship with food across five subscales. Total scores range from 37 to 190, with higher scores indicating greater disordered eating attitudes (higher score = worse outcome)

    Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention), Week 12 (immediately post-intervention), and 3 months post-intervention (follow-up).

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted7 May 2026
  2. Study start1 Jun 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Dec 2027 (estimated)

Resources

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
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to one of two parallel arms: the experimental group or the active control group. Both arms will run concurrently for 12 weeks. Participants in both groups will be evaluated at three identical time points: baseline, immediately post-intervention (12 weeks), and at a 3-month follow-up.
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
88 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07573410
Sponsor's protocol ID
96451726.0.0000.5152
Other IDs
U1111-1340-1295
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
1 May 2026
Last updated
11 May 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Silva TA, Flores AT, Buttros TS, Motarelli JHF, Pena GDG, Penaforte FRO, Japur CC. Mindfulness-Based Eating Solution (MBES) for Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating Attitudes in Nutrition Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomised Clinical Trial. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2025 Apr;38(2):e70040. doi: 10.1111/jhn.70040.

    PubMed 40091515
  • Bush HE, Rossy L, Mintz LB, Schopp L. Eat for life: a work site feasibility study of a novel mindfulness-based intuitive eating intervention. Am J Health Promot. 2014 Jul-Aug;28(6):380-8. doi: 10.4278/ajhp.120404-QUAN-186. Epub 2013 Aug 13.

    PubMed 23941103

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing "Eat for Life" Mindful Eating Program and Standard Nutritional Guidance in people with Mental Health and Body Image, run by Federal University of Uberlandia at 1 site in Brazil.

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 3 inclusion and 2 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 May 2026. 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 Brazil. 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?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Nilander P Nunes Filho, B.Sc (+55(34)996897015, nilanderfilho@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in Disordered Eating Attitudes and Behaviors (EAT-26) (time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention), Week 12 (immediately post-intervention), and 3 months post-intervention (follow-up).). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07573410, which also lists 2 linked publications.

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 11 May 2026.

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