Reducing Eating Disorder Risk Factors

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00050570
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: December 17, 2002
• Last Update Posted: March 18, 2020
• Sponsor: Stanford University
• Collaborator: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Craig Barr Taylor, Stanford University

Study Description

Brief Summary:

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a web-based program is effective in reducing the incidence of eating disorders in college women who are at high risk for developing an eating disorder.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Eating Disorders	Behavioral: Web-based intervention to reduce eating disorder risk factors	Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

Female college students who use unhealthy weight control methods and have body image concerns may be at risk for developing an eating disorder. Developing and evaluating interventions to reduce eating disorders in high-risk populations is of great public health importance.

Participants are randomly assigned to either join a web-based risk-reduction program or receive no intervention. The 9-week risk-reduction program focuses on reducing body image and weight/shape concerns, identifying the risks of eating disorders, and increasing healthy weight regulation practices. The program includes weekly readings, writing assignments, and participation in a moderated electronic discussion group. Changes in body mass index (BMI) and the occurrence of major stressors and psychiatric events are assessed to determine their impact on the incidence of eating disorders. One-year incidence of eating disorders is determined by a diagnostic interview, and follow up may continue for up to 2.5 years.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 206 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Official Title: Interventions to Reduce Eating Disorder Risk Factors
• Study Start Date: February 2001
• Actual Primary Completion Date: April 30, 2012
• Actual Study Completion Date: April 30, 2012

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Intervention; An 8-week, Internet- based, structured cognitive- behavioral program combined with an online, asynchronous, moderated discussion group.	Behavioral: Web-based intervention to reduce eating disorder risk factors
No Intervention: Control; The waitlist control group was only contacted at the time of assessments and was offered the intervention at the end of the study, after the 2-year follow-up assessment was completed.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Onset of an eating disorder [ Time Frame: 2 years ]
   The main outcome is the onset of an eating disorder, as defined by DSM-IV

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Change in eating disorder behaviors [ Time Frame: 2 years ]
   Eating disorder behaviors as measured by the Eating Disorder Examination. We will also measure attitudes related to eating disorder onset risk

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 30 Years (Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: Female
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• College students at risk for developing an eating disorder

Exclusion Criteria:

• Suicidal or other severe psychopathology
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Body mass index (BMI) < 18 or > 32
• Current diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or bulimia nervosa and have been in treatment within the past 6 months

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, California

Stanford University, Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Stanford, California, United States, 94305

Sponsors and Collaborators

Stanford University

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

More Information

• Responsible Party: Craig Barr Taylor, Professor, Stanford University
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00050570
• Other Study ID Numbers: R01MH060453 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ); R01MH060453 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ); DSIR CT-P
• First Posted: December 17, 2002
• Last Update Posted: March 18, 2020
• Last Verified: March 2020

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Feeding and Eating Disorders; Mental Disorders