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BEfree : A new psychological program for binge eating that integrates psychoeducation, mindfulness, and compassion

Pinto-Gouveia, José ; Carvalho, Sérgio A. ; Palmeira, Lara ; Castilho, Paula ; Duarte, Cristiana ; Ferreira, Cláudia ; Duarte, Joana LU ; Cunha, Marina ; Matos, Marcela and Costa, Joana (2017) In Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy 24(5). p.1090-1098
Abstract

Binge eating disorder (BED) is associated with several psychological and medical problems, such as obesity. Approximately 30% of individuals seeking weight loss treatments present binge eating symptomatology. Moreover, current treatments for BED lack efficacy at follow-up assessments. Developing mindfulness and self-compassion seem to be beneficial in treating BED, although there is still room for improvement, which may include integrating these different but complimentary approaches. BEfree is the first program integrating psychoeducation-, mindfulness-, and compassion-based components for treating women with binge eating and obesity. Objective: To test the acceptability and efficacy up to 6-month postintervention of a psychological... (More)

Binge eating disorder (BED) is associated with several psychological and medical problems, such as obesity. Approximately 30% of individuals seeking weight loss treatments present binge eating symptomatology. Moreover, current treatments for BED lack efficacy at follow-up assessments. Developing mindfulness and self-compassion seem to be beneficial in treating BED, although there is still room for improvement, which may include integrating these different but complimentary approaches. BEfree is the first program integrating psychoeducation-, mindfulness-, and compassion-based components for treating women with binge eating and obesity. Objective: To test the acceptability and efficacy up to 6-month postintervention of a psychological program based on psychoeducation, mindfulness, and self-compassion for obese or overweight women with BED. Design: A controlled longitudinal design was followed in order to compare results between BEfree (n = 19) and waiting list group (WL; n = 17) from preintervention to postintervention. Results from BEfree were compared from preintervention to 3- and 6-month follow-up. Results: BEfree was effective in eliminating BED; in diminishing eating psychopathology, depression, shame and self-criticism, body-image psychological inflexibility, and body-image cognitive fusion; and in improving obesity-related quality of life and self-compassion when compared to a WL control group. Results were maintained at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Finally, participants rated BEfree helpful for dealing with impulses and negative internal experiences. Conclusions: These results seem to suggest the efficacy of BEfree and the benefit of integrating different components such as psychoeducation, mindfulness, and self-compassion when treating BED in obese or overweight women. Key Practitioner Message: The current study provides evidence of the acceptability of a psychoeducation, mindfulness, and compassion program for binge eating in obesity (BEfree); Developing mindfulness and self-compassionate skills is an effective way of diminishing binge eating, eating psychopathology and depression, and increasing quality of life in women with obesity; Integrating psychoeducation, mindfulness, and compassion seem to be effective in diminishing binge eating, with results maintained up to 6-month postintervention.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
BEfree, binge eating, compassion, efficacy study, mindfulness, obesity
in
Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
volume
24
issue
5
pages
9 pages
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85030179913
  • pmid:28124451
ISSN
1063-3995
DOI
10.1002/cpp.2072
language
English
LU publication?
no
additional info
Funding Information: FCT (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology), Grant/Award Number: PTDC/ MHC‐PCL/4923/2012.
id
b9a68460-56b6-43c3-8d35-9132d0c982a5
date added to LUP
2021-11-18 12:57:35
date last changed
2024-06-01 20:13:31
@article{b9a68460-56b6-43c3-8d35-9132d0c982a5,
  abstract     = {{<p>Binge eating disorder (BED) is associated with several psychological and medical problems, such as obesity. Approximately 30% of individuals seeking weight loss treatments present binge eating symptomatology. Moreover, current treatments for BED lack efficacy at follow-up assessments. Developing mindfulness and self-compassion seem to be beneficial in treating BED, although there is still room for improvement, which may include integrating these different but complimentary approaches. BEfree is the first program integrating psychoeducation-, mindfulness-, and compassion-based components for treating women with binge eating and obesity. Objective: To test the acceptability and efficacy up to 6-month postintervention of a psychological program based on psychoeducation, mindfulness, and self-compassion for obese or overweight women with BED. Design: A controlled longitudinal design was followed in order to compare results between BEfree (n = 19) and waiting list group (WL; n = 17) from preintervention to postintervention. Results from BEfree were compared from preintervention to 3- and 6-month follow-up. Results: BEfree was effective in eliminating BED; in diminishing eating psychopathology, depression, shame and self-criticism, body-image psychological inflexibility, and body-image cognitive fusion; and in improving obesity-related quality of life and self-compassion when compared to a WL control group. Results were maintained at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Finally, participants rated BEfree helpful for dealing with impulses and negative internal experiences. Conclusions: These results seem to suggest the efficacy of BEfree and the benefit of integrating different components such as psychoeducation, mindfulness, and self-compassion when treating BED in obese or overweight women. Key Practitioner Message: The current study provides evidence of the acceptability of a psychoeducation, mindfulness, and compassion program for binge eating in obesity (BEfree); Developing mindfulness and self-compassionate skills is an effective way of diminishing binge eating, eating psychopathology and depression, and increasing quality of life in women with obesity; Integrating psychoeducation, mindfulness, and compassion seem to be effective in diminishing binge eating, with results maintained up to 6-month postintervention.</p>}},
  author       = {{Pinto-Gouveia, José and Carvalho, Sérgio A. and Palmeira, Lara and Castilho, Paula and Duarte, Cristiana and Ferreira, Cláudia and Duarte, Joana and Cunha, Marina and Matos, Marcela and Costa, Joana}},
  issn         = {{1063-3995}},
  keywords     = {{BEfree; binge eating; compassion; efficacy study; mindfulness; obesity}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{1090--1098}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy}},
  title        = {{BEfree : A new psychological program for binge eating that integrates psychoeducation, mindfulness, and compassion}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2072}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/cpp.2072}},
  volume       = {{24}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}