Publication on CARE pilot study shows efficacy of single-session mobile health interventions to reduce binge eating for college students

A new article entitled “A Pilot Study of ‘Help for Overcoming Problem Eating’ (HOPE): A Single Session Intervention for College Students with Binge-Spectrum Eating Disorders” was published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, a peer-reviewed platform that “advances the scientific knowledge needed for understanding, treating, and preventing eating disorders.”

This publication presents results from the HOPE study led by Sonakshi Negi, a graduate student in KU’s Center for the Advancement of Research on Eating Behaviors, which sought to test “the first digital single-session intervention designed to reduce binge eating for college students with non-low-weight binge-spectrum [eating disorders].”

This article is co-authored by Sonakshi Negi and CARE director Kelsie T. Forbush.

Introduction and Objective

“Eating disorders (EDs) are common among university students, yet most students with EDs do not have access to ED-related care on their campuses. The goal of this study was to test the initial acceptability and feasibility of Help for Overcoming Problem Eating (HOPE), the first digital single-session intervention designed to reduce binge eating for college students with non-low-weight binge-spectrum EDs.”

Discussion

"Results demonstrated the acceptability and preliminary efficacy of HOPE for those who completed the intervention. Further testing in a randomized controlled trial design is warranted. Although the current findings provided promising pilot feasibility data, additional research is needed to identify reasons for attrition/nonparticipation to reduce barriers for study completion."