Mindful Moms, Mindful Meals: postpartum mindful-eating program
Mindful Moms, Mindful Meals (MMMM): A Patient-Oriented Randomized Controlled Trial Testing the Effects of a Mindful Eating Intervention on Infant Feeding Practices
This will test whether an 8-week mindful eating program for postpartum mothers of 6–12 month-old infants helps mothers eat more mindfully and improves infant feeding practices.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 72 (estimated) |
| Ages | 19 Years to 45 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | University of New Brunswick Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Fredericton, New Brunswick) |
| Trial ID | NCT07282964 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The trial compares an immediate 8-week Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training Postpartum (MB-EAT-P) program to a waitlist group that receives the same program after eight weeks. Participants attend weekly two-hour group sessions, complete home mindfulness and mindful-eating practices, and take part in recorded mealtime observations with their infants. Surveys and dietary recalls are collected at baseline, midpoint, and after the intervention to measure maternal eating behaviors, diet quality, and infant feeding practices. The protocol was co-developed with a Parent Advisory Committee to ensure the content is relevant and acceptable to postpartum individuals.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Postpartum mothers aged 19–45 with a term infant aged 6–12 months who have started or plan to start solids, can attend weekly sessions at the University of New Brunswick, agree to recorded mealtime observations, and complete the 8-week program are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Those with active or unmanaged eating disorders, unmanaged chronic medical or psychiatric conditions affecting diet or participation, significant cognitive impairments, substance use disorder, infants born before 37 weeks, or who cannot commit to the program schedule are unlikely to receive benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help postpartum mothers improve diet quality, tune into hunger and fullness cues, and establish healthier early feeding habits for their infants.
How similar studies have performed: Mindful-eating interventions during pregnancy have shown feasibility and reductions in stress and overeating, but postpartum-focused trials addressing maternal diet and infant feeding outcomes are limited and largely untested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 19 and 45 years. * Have started or plan to start solid foods for their baby by the time of enrollment * Have an infant aged 6 to 12 months * Willing to participate in a recorded mealtime observation for the study * Willing to complete an 8-week MB-EAT-P intervention, including homework assignments * Have an infant born at or after 37 weeks of gestation. Exclusion Criteria: General * Planning to move in the next two months * Medically diagnosed with an active eating disorder (e.g., Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder) * Diagnosed with an unmanaged chronic medical condition affecting diet (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, celiac disease, severe GI disorders, kidney disease, sleep apnea, PCOS) * Diagnosed with unmanaged postpartum depression or anxiety * Diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia with extreme fatigue or weakness * Substance use disorder (e.g., alcohol or drug addiction) * Cognitive impairments affecting memory, attention, or comprehension (e.g., dementia, brain injury) * Following a strict formal diet or weight loss program * Enrolled in a weight loss or mindfulness-based program in the past 12 months * Recovering from major surgery or experiencing an acute medical crisis (e.g., bariatric surgery) * Experiencing recent trauma or untreated PTSD
Where this trial is running
Fredericton, New Brunswick
- University of New Brunswick — Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Dr. Maryam Kebbe, PhD, CLC — University of New Brunswick
- Study coordinator: Dr. Maryam Kebbe, PhD, CLC
- Email: maryam.kebbe@unb.ca
- Phone: +1-506-451-6872
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.