Overview
The goal of this study is to develop and test a digital program to help people with eating disorders in their everyday lives. The program uses brief surveys and sensor data collected by smartphones to understand when someone may be at higher risk for behaviors like restricting food, binge eating, or using unhealthy weight control behaviors.
Description
In this study, 170 adults with eating disorders will take part. They will regularly report on their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors throughout the day. Based on this information, the program will send "just-in-time" support, which involves short, tailored suggestions that encourage the use of helpful coping skills right when they are most needed.
The study has three main goals:
- To better understand risk patterns:
The investigators will use real-time data to build personalized models that predict when someone is at higher risk for eating disorder behaviors based on their own data and patterns. 2. To test which therapy skills work best and why:
The investigators will examine how different evidence-based therapy skills (such as managing urges, improving mood, reducing strict dieting, and improving body image) help reduce eating disorder behaviors in daily life, and what psychological factors explain these effects. 3. To evaluate the program's usability:
The investigators will assess whether participants find the digital support helpful, easy to use, and acceptable in their daily routines.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18-70
- At least 12 ED behaviors from the same behavioral category in the past 12 weeks (i.e., at least 12 binge eating episodes, at least 12 compensatory behaviors, and/or at least 12 instances of dietary restriction)
- Ownership of a smartphone
- Willingness to complete ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and sensor data collection
- Live in the United States
- Has a primary care provider or is willing to establish a primary care provider
Exclusion Criteria:
- Inability to fluently speak, read, and write in English
- Body mass index \< 17.5 kg/m2
- Medical complications of ED symptoms requiring immediate treatment
- Current ED-focused therapy
- Severe psychopathology (i.e., active suicidal ideation, psychosis, bipolar disorder, or substance use disorder) or intellectual disability inhibiting engagement in study protocols
