People Who Do THIS Have Smaller Hips And Bellies

Can you think of a place on your body more difficult to change than your belly? It is true that abdominal fat is beyond stubborn and frustrating but there is new research that suggests the key to taming this beastly area is all in your head.

A recent study has found that people who are mindful, that is people who are able to focus on one thing at a time and be present in a moment, have significantly less belly fat than those who are unable to practice this attentiveness.

Published in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, the study’s researchers measured the body mass index and the amount of fat on the hips and stomachs of 394 male and female participants born between 1959 and 1974. The participants were then given a 15 question mindfulness assessment to see where they landed on the  Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. The questions included things like, “I find it difficult to stay focused on what happening in the present,” with a number between one and six to indicate how much the participant agreed or disagreed with the statement. The responses were then averaged to get the participants overall mindfulness score with one being the lowest, and six the highest.

After controlling for other variables like age, sex and smoking, the researchers then compare the mindfulness scores to the body fat and weight measurements.

You, no doubt, know the theory that being dialed in to your body while eating can help you control your intake and lose weight so these results shouldn’t surprise you. But, it is worth noting that this study is correlational and does not prove causation. The researcher say more work needs to be done to determine why it is that being mindful can help you lose weight and keep it off.

At the very least, this study gives you even more reason to tune into your body and practice mindfulness.

Have you been working on your mindfulness? What are your tips?

Source: Women’s Health

 

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