Mindful People Have Less Fat

Why do people who are in touch with their feelings have less belly fat that others? Researchers don’t really know, but they are fairly certain that people with a high awareness of their present thoughts and feelings — “dispositional mindfulness” — have about a pound less belly fat on average. A Brown University news release reports that researchers at the school looked at how 394 people scored on the six-point Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), in which they rated their agreement with 15 prompts, such as “I find it difficult to stay focused on what’s happening in the present” and “I could be experiencing some emotion and not be conscious of it until some time later.” The researchers also measured each person’s belly and hip fat, measured body mass index, and collected data about health, lifestyle, and demographics. One possible reason that mindful people has less fat, researchers suggest, is that people are evolutionarily predisposed to stock up on calories when they are available and to rest when they get the chance. Mindfulness, which other studies have shown can help people overcome cravings and eat a healthier diet, may be the cognitive tool people need to overcome their instincts. It may also  help people override an aversion to initiating exercise (research suggests that people feel great after working out but often feel ambivalent about getting started).