A new study from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine suggests that mindfulness therapy can help curb obesity rates among children. In the study, the researchers used MRI scans to study three parts of the brain in children that were obese, children that were slightly overweight and children that were healthy. The study found that the obese children had stronger connections to the frontal pole of the brain (the area associated with impulsivity) and found also that there is an imbalance in the brain connections associated with childhood obesity, something that can be helped with mindfulness. With mindfulness, children can gain insight into the state of their dietary patterns and improve their resiliency against impulses, like cravings for eating unhealthy foods. More studies must be done to show the effectiveness of mindfulness, but it could definitely be a significant step forward for giving children the control they need to grow and stay healthy.
Mindfulness therapy may be a powerful tool for curbing obesity rates in children
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