Binge Eating Self-help Treatment for University Students

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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BEST4US compares the effectiveness of two forms of self-help interventions that target college students, ages 18 years to 22 years, who report binge eating. The overall question is whether one or the other format will prevent excess weight gain and lead to differences in eating behaviors. The two formats are (1) pure self-help (receipt of a self-help program via book form or online texts) and (2) a combination of the self-help program and guidance provided by a trained peer coach over the course of 8 weekly sessions.

Official Title
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Targeting Binge Eating to Prevent Weight Gain in College Students

Conditions
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Obesity, Binge Eating Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Guided Self-Help
* Behavioral: Pure Self-Help


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: binge eating episodes at least once per week in the past 28 days 18 to 22 years old full-time student at Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT, USA) or Manchester Community College (Manchester, CT, USA) Exclusion Criteria: purging more than once per week in the past three months BMI less than 18 or greater than/equal to 40 currently pregnant severe depressive symptoms or suicidality

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 22 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Guided Self-Help<br>Participants receive self-help materials, including a book (Overcoming Binge Eating by C. Fairburn, handouts, and online resources. In addition, participants receive 8 individual sessions with a peer coach who supports participants in working the self-help program. | Behavioral: Guided Self-Help<br> <br> |
| Other: Pure Self-Help<br>Participants receive self-help materials, including a book (Overcoming Binge Eating by C. Fairburn, handouts, and online resources. | Behavioral: Pure Self-Help<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BMI | The primary outcome measure is change in BMI from randomization. Height and weight will be measured by study staff at the baseline visit using a stadiometer (collecting height measures twice and reporting the average) and a calibrated scale (light clothing, street shoes removed). BMI will be calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in squared centimeters. Weight will be re-measured at 8 week- and 6 month assessments. BMI change is a primary-, and incidence of obesity (i.e., obesity onset since baseline, BMI > 30) is a secondary outcome variable. While we assess weight at the post-treatment assessment, the key question of our study is whether the intervention will reduce excess weight gain at 6-month follow-up. | Baseline, post-intervention (8-week), and 6-month follow-up | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cessation of Binge Eating | Binge eating is assessed by clinical interview using an abbreviated version of the Eating Disorders Examination (EDE-16e) at baseline, post-treatment (8-week), and 6-month follow-up. Specifically, the EDE sections on 7-day meal patterns, overeating episodes, and the frequency of inappropriate compensatory behaviors will be administered. The key question of our study is whether the intervention will eliminate binge eating at 6-month follow-up (no reported binge eating episodes in the 28 days prior to the 6-month follow-up). | Baseline, post-intervention (8-week), and 6-month follow-up | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Obesity, Weight gain prevention, Eating disorder, Binge eating