Group dialectical behavior therapy adapted for obese emotional eaters; a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Behavioral Therapy
• Obesity Research

Background:

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is effective for binge eating disorder (BED).
• Emotional eating is a significant factor in obesity.
• Obesity is linked to increased morbidity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot the effectiveness of group DBT for obese emotional eaters.
• To reduce eating psychopathology and achieve weight maintenance.
• To assess DBT's impact on emotional eating and weight at end-of-treatment and 6-month follow-up.

Main Methods:

• 35 obese emotional eaters participated in 20 group psychotherapy sessions of adapted DBT.
• Assessments for eating psychopathology and weight were conducted at end-of-treatment and 6-month follow-up.
• Low dropout rate (1 participant) and high data retention (94%) were observed.

Main Results:

• DBT led to significant reductions in emotional eating and eating psychopathology.
• These reductions were maintained at the 6-month follow-up.
• 80% of participants achieved weight reduction or maintenance; effect size for weight reduction was small.

Conclusions:

• Group DBT is a highly acceptable and effective intervention for reducing eating psychopathology in obese emotional eaters.
• DBT may help limit weight gain and prevent obesity-related morbidity in this population.
• This pilot study supports DBT as a valuable therapeutic approach for emotional eating and obesity.