title: BEfree: A new psychological program for binge eating that integrates psychoeducation, mindfulness, and compassion.
abstract: Binge eating disorder (BED) is associated with several psychological and medical problems, such as obesity. Approximately 30% of individuals seeking weight loss treatments present binge eating symptomatology. Moreover, current treatments for BED lack efficacy at follow-up assessments. Developing mindfulness and self-compassion seem to be beneficial in treating BED, although there is still room for improvement, which may include integrating these different but complimentary approaches. BEfree is the first program integrating psychoeducation-, mindfulness-, and compassion-based components for treating women with binge eating and obesity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test the acceptability and efficacy up to 6-month postintervention of a psychological program based on psychoeducation, mindfulness, and self-compassion for obese or overweight women with BED.
  
  
  METHODS
  A controlled longitudinal design was followed in order to compare results between BEfree (n = 19) and waiting list group (WL; n = 17) from preintervention to postintervention. Results from BEfree were compared from preintervention to 3- and 6-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BEfree was effective in eliminating BED; in diminishing eating psychopathology, depression, shame and self-criticism, body-image psychological inflexibility, and body-image cognitive fusion; and in improving obesity-related quality of life and self-compassion when compared to a WL control group. Results were maintained at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Finally, participants rated BEfree helpful for dealing with impulses and negative internal experiences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results seem to suggest the efficacy of BEfree and the benefit of integrating different components such as psychoeducation, mindfulness, and self-compassion when treating BED in obese or overweight women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study provides evidence of the acceptability of a psychoeducation, mindfulness, and compassion program for binge eating in obesity (BEfree); Developing mindfulness and self-compassionate skills is an effective way of diminishing binge eating, eating psychopathology and depression, and increasing quality of life in women with obesity; Integrating psychoeducation, mindfulness, and compassion seem to be effective in diminishing binge eating, with results maintained up to 6-month postintervention.
authors.affiliation: CINEICC, Cognitive and Behavioural Centre for Research and Intervention, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinto-Gouveia
authors.affiliation: CINEICC, Cognitive and Behavioural Centre for Research and Intervention, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sérgio A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: CINEICC, Cognitive and Behavioural Centre for Research and Intervention, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palmeira
authors.affiliation: CINEICC, Cognitive and Behavioural Centre for Research and Intervention, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castilho
authors.affiliation: CINEICC, Cognitive and Behavioural Centre for Research and Intervention, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: CINEICC, Cognitive and Behavioural Centre for Research and Intervention, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: CINEICC, Cognitive and Behavioural Centre for Research and Intervention, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: CINEICC, Cognitive and Behavioural Centre for Research and Intervention, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|ISMT, Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.affiliation: CINEICC, Cognitive and Behavioural Centre for Research and Intervention, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7320-7107
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.affiliation: CINEICC, Cognitive and Behavioural Centre for Research and Intervention, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: BEfree; binge eating; compassion; efficacy study; mindfulness; obesity