Cognitive-behavioural treatment for women who binge eat.
OBJECTIVE
A dietitian-administered, shortened form of the Apple and Agras cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) method was evaluated in a group setting to determine its effect on improving obese women's self-esteem and reducing binge-eating behaviours, depression, and negative body image.


METHODS
Participants were recruited through newspaper and radio advertisements. Respondents who met study selection criteria were randomly assigned to either a CBT group (n=13) or a delayed group (D-CBT) (n=9). The treatment was administered over six weekly sessions to the CBT group, and then twice weekly over three weeks to the D-CBT group. Two measures of bingeing behaviour (severity and frequency), three measures of mood (depression, body image, and self-esteem), and body weight were assessed.


RESULTS
The intervention did not result in any changes in body weight. There were statistically significant and clinically important changes after treatment (p<0.05) for all five measures. Binge-eating severity and frequency decreased, depression decreased, body image improved, and self-esteem improved. All changes were greater in the six-week treatment group.


CONCLUSIONS
The dietitian-administered, group setting CBT program is effective for reducing binge eating and improving emotional state in obese women.
Shelley-Ummenhofer
Jill
J
Integrated Health Centre, Penticton, BC.
MacMillan
Peter D
PD
D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004046:Dietetics / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome