title: Nondieting versus dieting treatment for overweight binge-eating women.
abstract: This study evaluated the effectiveness of nondieting versus dieting treatments for overweight, binge-eating women. Participants (N = 219) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: diet treatment (DT), nondiet treatment (NDT), or wait-list control (WLC). DT received a balanced-deficit diet reinforced with behavioral strategies. NDT received therapy designed to help participants break out of their dieting cycles. Treatment in both conditions was administered in weekly groups for 6 months, followed by 26 biweekly maintenance meetings, for a total of 18 months of contact. At 6 months posttreatment, DT lost 0.6 kg while NDT gained 1.3 kg. Both treatment groups reduced their Binge Eating Scale scores significantly more than WLC. At 18-month follow-up, both treatment groups experienced weight gain but maintained similar reductions in binge eating. Results indicate that neither intervention was successful in producing short- or long-term weight loss. Therapist biases, which may have affected treatment integrity, and other methodological issues are discussed in relation to the small weight losses achieved.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Medicine Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Goodrick
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Poston
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Kimball
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Reeves
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Foreyt
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group