Prevention of eating disorders and obesity via the internet.

Internet technology has been expanding rapidly and has had a dramatic impact on how people communicate, learn and share information. This article presents applications of internet technology to the psychological domain, particularly in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders and obesity. Information regarding advantages and disadvantages of computerized interventions are discussed and several examples of randomized controlled trials with this technology are presented.

Improving compliance in on-line, structured self-help programs: evaluation of an eating disorder prevention program.

Compliance rates from four iterations of Student Bodies, an 8-10 week computer assisted health education (CAHE) program for the prevention of eating disorders in college-aged women, were measured. Each iteration was modified with the hope of increasing participant compliance. Participants were 116 undergraduate women from two large West Coast universities who were randomly assigned to either the CAHE program or a wait-list group.

Application of an algorithm-driven protocol to simultaneously provide universal and targeted prevention programs.

Objective: Our objective was to develop a model to simultaneously prevent eating disorders and weight gain among female high school students.

Method: Of 188 female 10th graders enrolled in health classes, 174 elected to participate in the current study. They were assessed on-line and decided to participate in one of four interventions appropriate to their risk.

A comparison of the binge eating scale, questionnaire for eating and weight patterns-revised, and eating disorder examination questionnaire with instructions with the eating disorder examination in the assessment of binge eating disorder and its symptoms.

Objective: The current study assesses concordance between self-administered measures and a diagnostic standard for assessment of binge frequency and diagnosis of binge eating disorder (BED) in a sample of binge eaters.

Method: The Questionnaire for Eating and Weight Patterns-Revised (QEWP-R), Binge Eating Scale (BES), two items from the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire with Instructions (EDE-Q-I), and the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) were administered. Participants were 157 adults volunteering for a clinical study, of whom 129 (79%) were diagnosed with BED using the EDE as the diagnostic standard.

Are adolescents harmed when asked risky weight control behavior and attitude questions? Implications for consent procedures.

Objectives: This study explores whether asking minors about risky weight control behaviors and attitudes increases the frequency of those behaviors and attitudes.

Methods: Participants were 115 sixth-grade girls who responded to questions on risky weight control behaviors and attitudes at baseline and at 12-month follow-up. An additional 107 girls, who had not been part of the baseline, provided data only at follow-up.