Development and preliminary effectiveness of an innovative treatment for binge eating in racially diverse adolescent girls

• This binge eating intervention was feasible in a sample of adolescent girls.
• Treatment yielded reductions in eating disordered cognitions and restraint.
• This investigation included both black and white adolescents.
• Binge eating in adolescents might be best treated using a “stepped-care” approach.

IntroductionBinge and loss of control (LOC) eating are significant concerns among many adolescents and are associated with poor physical, social, and psychological functioning. Black girls appear to be particularly vulnerable to binge and LOC eating. Yet, empirically validated, culturally sensitive treatments for these disordered eating behaviors are not well established. This investigation examined satisfaction, feasibility, and preliminary outcomes of a binge eating intervention for ethnically diverse adolescent girls.MethodsParticipants were 45 girls (age 13–17 years; 44.4% white, 42.2% black) randomized into a dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)-based intervention (Linking Individuals Being Emotionally Real, LIBER8) or a weight management group (2BFit). Following each meeting, participants completed satisfaction measures, and therapists assessed intervention feasibility. Participants also completed assessments of eating behavior and related psychological constructs at baseline, immediately following the intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.ResultsDescriptive statistics indicated that LIBER8 was feasible, and participants were highly satisfied with this intervention. Significant reductions in eating disorder cognitions, dietary restraint, and eating in response to negative affect were observed for participants in both groups, with no differences between LIBER8 and 2BFit.DiscussionThe acceptability and feasibility of LIBER8 and associated reductions in emotional eating show promise in ameliorating binge eating and provide insight into multiple options for treating this challenging eating concern.