Biobehavioral Rhythm Intervention for Targeting Binge Eating and Restriction (BRITER)

Biobehavioral Rhythm Intervention for Targeting Binge Eating and Restriction (BRITER) is a 10-week mobile-health intervention for KU students who experience binge eating. The program uses a mobile health app to deliver weekly treatment modules and surveys, helping participants build healthier daily routines and regulate sleep and eating schedules. Guided treatment includes the use of a bright light lamp, wearing a wrist-worn device to track sleep, and attending weekly 20-30-minute coaching sessions. Coaching sessions provide participants with personalized support to help promote lasting changes in their daily habits.

Binge eating is a serious and prevalent concern for many college students, often leading to elevated stress and physical health problems. Many students experience irregular eating and sleeping patterns, which can disrupt the body’s natural rhythms and increase the likelihood of binge-eating episodes. Traditional eating disorder treatments often overlook these circadian rhythm disruptions, even though research shows that regulating circadian rhythms can improve mood, sleep, and disordered eating behaviors. BRITER was created to fill this gap by testing a mobile health program designed to help students stabilize their sleep, meal timing, and daily rhythms. BRITER provides a new, accessible option for students seeking support for binge eating, aiming to improve overall well-being by targeting underlying biological and behavioral rhythms. 

BRITER is a promising pilot study, and our team is excited to continue growing the program. In the future, we aim to train additional coaches and expand the program to reach a larger group of students. If you are interested in participating in BRITER, please send us an email at cope@ku.edu!