Effects of an Internet-based intervention for subthreshold eating disorders: a randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Women with initial eating disorder (ED) symptoms are at high risk for developing full-threshold EDs.
• Preventive interventions need to be tailored for this vulnerable subgroup.
• Subthreshold ED symptoms include high weight/shape concerns and below-threshold disordered eating behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and evaluate the efficacy of the internet-based "Student Bodies™" prevention program for women with subthreshold ED symptoms.
• To assess the impact of the adapted program on disordered eating attitudes and behaviors.

Main Methods:

• 126 women with subthreshold ED symptoms were randomized to the "Student Bodies™+" (SB+) intervention or a wait-list control group.
• Assessments were conducted at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up.
• Data were analyzed using ANCOVAS with mixed effects.

Main Results:

• The SB+ intervention group showed significantly greater improvements in ED-related attitudes compared to the control group at 6-month follow-up.
• Intervention participants experienced significantly greater reductions in binge eating (67%) and purging episodes (86%).
• A higher proportion of participants in the intervention group (45.1%) were abstinent from all ED symptoms compared to the control group (26.9%).

Conclusions:

• The adapted "SB+" program is an effective intervention for women experiencing subthreshold eating disorders.
• The program demonstrated particular efficacy for individuals with the binge eating subtype of subthreshold EDs.
• This internet-based approach offers a scalable solution for early intervention in eating disorders.