Treating Binge Eating and Obesity Digitally in Black Women

University of North Carolina (UNC)

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Binge-Eating Disorder; Weight Gain Prevention; Binge Eating; Obesity

Treatments: Behavioral: Centering Appetite

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT05693896

5K23DK129832-02 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

21-2718

Details and patient eligibility

About

More than 30% of Black women with obesity binge eat. Binge eating may increase the risk for the development of metabolic syndrome and binge-eating-disorder (BED), which is associated with severe obesity. Though several effective treatments for binge eating exist, Black women have not fared well. Not only has their inclusion in treatment trials been limited, but when participating, they are more likely to drop out, and/or lose less weight, compared to their White counterparts. Furthermore, treatment for binge eating is often not available in primary care and community-based settings places where Black women are more likely to receive treatment for their eating and weight-related concerns. Currently, there is scant intervention research to treat binge eating in Black women. With the highest rates of obesity (57%) nationally, Black women are in need of culturally-relevant treatments for binge eating and weight gain prevention. Given the established relationship between frequent binge eating and subsequent weight gain, addressing binge eating among Black women with obesity is imperative.

Full description

Aim 1. Modify and adapt a validated program to be a culturally-relevant digital health tool for binge eating and weight management for Black women (BMI > 30 kg/m^2) who binge eat.

Aim 1a. Identify the barriers and facilitators to detecting and treating binge eating in Black women with obesity, and identify strategies for optimizing digital health tools to engage and retain this population.

Aim 1b. Conduct usability testing with a group of stakeholders to guide content and design refinements; refine tool.

Aim 2. In a randomized clinical trial, examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the digital health appetite awareness + behavioral weight program in primary care.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Over 18 years of age,
• BMI ≥ 30 kg/m^2,
• have and regularly use a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone,
• report at least one binge eating episode weekly,
• work or live within 30 miles of Kannapolis, NC,
• complete the screening questionnaire

Exclusion criteria

• currently pregnant,
• in substance abuse treatment,
• involved in another weight reduction program,
• have a history of anorexia,
• are purging,
• currently in treatment for eating difficulties,
• are concurrent intravenous drug users
• consume >4 alcoholic beverages/day

Trial design

Primary purpose: Screening

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Centering Appetite Intervention, Then Attention- Control Group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants randomized to the attention-control group will participate remotely via a smartphone app and online lessons. The intervention will build participants' self-efficacy to reduce binge eating and to assist them in preventing weight gain.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Centering Appetite

Attention- Control Group, Then Centering Appetite Intervention

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants randomized to the centering appetite intervention group will receive weekly psychoeducation emails about general wellness topics, discussion of binge eating, diet, and physical activity.