View in EDS

Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of a Guided Self‐Help Digital Intervention for Adults With Food Insecurity, Recurrent Binge Eating, and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Trial.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of a Guided Self‐Help Digital Intervention for Adults With Food Insecurity, Recurrent Binge Eating, and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Trial.
Authors: Graham, Andrea K. (AUTHOR), Flynn, Rebecca L. (AUTHOR), Rooper, Isabel R. (AUTHOR), Azubuike, Chidiebere (AUTHOR), Lipman, Lindsay D. (AUTHOR), Ortega, Adrian (AUTHOR), Parsons, Leah M. (AUTHOR), Miller, Graham C. (AUTHOR), Lekkas, Damien (AUTHOR), Wildes, Jennifer E. (AUTHOR)
Source: International Journal of Eating Disorders. Jul2026, Vol. 59 Issue 7, p1531-1542. 12p.
Subjects: Bulimia treatment, Health self-care, Self-evaluation, Internet access, Patient compliance, Research funding, Smartphones, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Data analysis, Food security, Digital health, Pilot projects, Body weight, Questionnaires, Treatment effectiveness, Behavior, Control groups, Pre-tests & post-tests, Type 2 diabetes, Food habits, Guilt (Psychology), Statistics, Analysis of variance, Disease relapse, Cognitive therapy, Text messages, Shame, Data analysis software, Confidence intervals, Mental depression
Abstract: Objective: Food insecurity is increasingly linked to binge eating and weight‐related health issues like type 2 diabetes mellitus, but no eating disorder interventions have been tested among individuals with food insecurity. We conducted a single‐arm pilot test of FoodSteps‐FI, a guided self‐help digital intervention for binge eating adapted for food insecurity, among adults with food insecurity, recurrent binge eating, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our aims were to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of FoodSteps‐FI delivery. Method: Participants were 31 non‐pregnant, English‐speaking adults (≥ 18 years old) with self‐reported type 2 diabetes mellitus, recurrent binge eating (≥ 12 episodes in the past 3 months), and past 30‐day food insecurity who were interested in intervention and owned a smartphone with internet access. All participants received FoodSteps‐FI with messaging‐based coaching (~2×/weekly) for 16 weeks, and a weekly stipend. Participants completed assessments at mid‐intervention (8 weeks) and post‐intervention (16 weeks). Intent‐to‐treat analyses assessed feasibility and changes in clinical outcomes from baseline to post‐intervention. Results: The trial demonstrated feasible recruitment, high study retention, and high intervention completion, adherence, and ratings of usability. Participants achieved improvements in binge eating, weight, past 30‐day food security status, eating concerns, shape concerns, weight concerns, eating disorder impairment, depressive symptoms, shame, and guilt. Nearly all participants rated the stipend as helpful for making behavior changes, but substantially fewer said it was sufficient. Discussion: This pilot trial demonstrated the early promise of an adapted digital binge‐eating intervention for this population, and the need for future research on its effectiveness and implementation. Summary: There is a growing understanding of the association between food insecurity and binge eating, and a striking lack of intervention.We pilot tested a digital intervention for binge eating, adapted for food insecurity, among adults with food insecurity, recurrent binge eating, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.Pilot results showed improvements in binge eating, weight, food security status, eating disorder psychopathology, depressive symptoms, shame, and guilt.Future research is needed to evaluate this intervention in a fully powered trial with a larger sample compared to a controlled condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Description
Abstract:Objective: Food insecurity is increasingly linked to binge eating and weight‐related health issues like type 2 diabetes mellitus, but no eating disorder interventions have been tested among individuals with food insecurity. We conducted a single‐arm pilot test of FoodSteps‐FI, a guided self‐help digital intervention for binge eating adapted for food insecurity, among adults with food insecurity, recurrent binge eating, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our aims were to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of FoodSteps‐FI delivery. Method: Participants were 31 non‐pregnant, English‐speaking adults (≥ 18 years old) with self‐reported type 2 diabetes mellitus, recurrent binge eating (≥ 12 episodes in the past 3 months), and past 30‐day food insecurity who were interested in intervention and owned a smartphone with internet access. All participants received FoodSteps‐FI with messaging‐based coaching (~2×/weekly) for 16 weeks, and a weekly stipend. Participants completed assessments at mid‐intervention (8 weeks) and post‐intervention (16 weeks). Intent‐to‐treat analyses assessed feasibility and changes in clinical outcomes from baseline to post‐intervention. Results: The trial demonstrated feasible recruitment, high study retention, and high intervention completion, adherence, and ratings of usability. Participants achieved improvements in binge eating, weight, past 30‐day food security status, eating concerns, shape concerns, weight concerns, eating disorder impairment, depressive symptoms, shame, and guilt. Nearly all participants rated the stipend as helpful for making behavior changes, but substantially fewer said it was sufficient. Discussion: This pilot trial demonstrated the early promise of an adapted digital binge‐eating intervention for this population, and the need for future research on its effectiveness and implementation. Summary: There is a growing understanding of the association between food insecurity and binge eating, and a striking lack of intervention.We pilot tested a digital intervention for binge eating, adapted for food insecurity, among adults with food insecurity, recurrent binge eating, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.Pilot results showed improvements in binge eating, weight, food security status, eating disorder psychopathology, depressive symptoms, shame, and guilt.Future research is needed to evaluate this intervention in a fully powered trial with a larger sample compared to a controlled condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:02763478
DOI:10.1002/eat.70087