A Comparison of the Efficacy of Online HAPIFED versus Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Binge Eating Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

The efficacy of two different online treatment programs for people with binge eating disorder (BED) was compared. One hundred and nineteen adults with BED were randomized to treatments based on the Healthy Approach to Weight Management and Food in Eating Disorders (HAPIFED) or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The treatments were delivered via videoconferencing in 10 groups with approximately 12 participants in each group. Each group included 13 treatment sessions and two follow-up sessions. Participants’ self-reported eating disorder behaviours/psychopathology, general mental health, and weight were assessed at pre-treatment, the end of treatment, a 3-month follow-up, and a 6-month follow-up. The participants in both treatments similarly reduced objective and subjective binge eating episodes from pre-treatment to the end of treatment. There were no significant differences in weight loss for the participants in either treatment. The participants in both treatments had reduced levels of loss of control over eating, eating disorder psychopathology, depression, psychological stress, and difficulties in emotion regulation from pre-treatment to the end of treatment. Treatments based on the HAPIFED or CBT delivered via videoconferencing can reduce binge eating and improve mental health in people with BED.