Building Healthy Eating and Self-Esteem Together for University Students A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of an mHealth Intervention for Binge-Spectrum Disorders

What this Trial Is About

Eating disorders, especially binge-spectrum disorders, have become a serious concern on college campuses, with a significant rise in cases since the COVID-19 pandemic. This research aims to evaluate a mobile health guided self-help program called Building Healthy Eating and Self-Esteem Together for University Students BEST-U compared to present-centered therapy PCT in university students with binge eating disorders. The study will explore how these treatments reduce binge eating and improve related symptoms, focusing on mechanisms like dietary restraint and weightshape concerns. The study compares two behavioral interventions the BEST-U program, which delivers 15 brief modules via a smartphone app over 12 weeks combined with weekly 25-30 minute coaching sessions, and PCT, a therapy focusing on coping with daily life stressors and improving interpersonal connections. BEST-U includes evidence-based skills from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, while PCT serves as a comparator addressing emotional triggers for binge eating. Participants receive these treatments in a randomized, single-blind design. Participants will be university students aged 18 to 65 with binge-spectrum eating disorders who have access to a smartphone. They will be assessed through surveys measuring binge eating and eating disorder symptoms at baseline, weekly during the 12-week intervention, and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Additional assessments will track impairment, anxiety, depression, and mood symptoms. The study also explores factors influencing response to treatment and barriers to implementing BEST-U across campuses, with the total participation lasting up to six months after treatment.

Building Healthy Eating and Self-Esteem Together for University Students