Objective To explore the impact of mindful diet intervention on dietary behaviors, body composition, and mindfulness levels in overweight/obese children.

Methods A total of 74 overweight/obese children who sought treatment at a tertiary-level hospital in Hunan Province were selected as study subjects. They were randomly divided into experimental group and control group using the random number table method, with 37 cases in each group. The control group implemented a conventional body weight management program, while the experimental group received mindful diet intervention in addition to the conventional program. Changes in body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, visceral fat area, dietary behaviors, and mindfulness levels were compared between the two groups before and after intervention.

Results Before intervention, there were no statistically significant differences in general information, body composition, dietary behaviors, and mindfulness levels between the two groups (P>0.05). After 8 weeks of intervention, the BMI, body fat percentage, and visceral fat area of children in both groups were lower than those before intervention. The scores for emotional diet, restrictive diet, and external diet were also lower than those before intervention, while the mindfulness levels were higher than those before intervention, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). The experimental group showed better results than the control group in terms of BMI, body fat percentage, visceral fat area, scores for emotional diet, restrictive diet, and external diet, as well as mindfulness levels (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Mindful diet intervention can effectively improve dietary behaviors, reduce body fat percentage and visceral fat area, and enhance mindfulness levels in overweight/obese children.