Guided Self Help; managing binge eating prior to weight management V6
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Managing binge eating prior to weight management using guided self-help
IRAS ID
319705
Contact name
Ella Upton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
Research Summary
The recommended first-line treatment for adults with binge eating disorder is guided self-help (GSH). The GSH intervention being evaluated in this research is ‘Working to Overcome Eating Difficulties’. Participants are adults living with obesity who report binge eating difficulties. The intervention consists of a self-help manual, seven sessions with a Guide and Guide training. Associated quantitative information about participants is being collected by MoreLife, an associated company of Leeds Beckett University, that is currently providing the GSH intervention within South Essex on behalf of Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board.
This project aims to enhance our understanding of participant and guide experiences of delivering/receiving the intervention. The aim is to interview up to 12 adults who have participated in the GSH intervention, and 4 guides. All participants will be recruited using an opt-in method, through a participant information sheet and a consent to be contacted form. If they consent to be contacted the chief investigator (CI) will contact them to discuss the study, gain informed consent verbally (the CI will complete an online consent form with participants that can be shared) and organise a time/date for a remote interview (using Zoom or similar) that will last approximately an hour. Interviews will be recorded and transcribed using the videoconferencing software, anonymised, and held in-line with the University Information Protection Policy. Transcripts will then be analysed by the CI.
Following the GSH intervention participants are then offered a standard Tier weight management service, currently also delivered by MoreLife.Lay summary of study results
Introduction: Binge eating (BE) is considered the most common eating disorder. It is strongly associated with obesity and presents a barrier to effective weight management (WM). Guided Self Help (GSH) interventions are recommended for BE, but most people have never received any support for this problem. This thesis presents a qualitative study examining guides’ and clients’ experiences of change using a GSH intervention called ‘Working to Overcome Eating Difficulties’ (WOED) for adults with BE and obesity, prior to engaging in WM.
Method: After receiving or facilitating WOED, nine clients and four guides were interviewed remotely using an adapted version of the client change interview (CCI). Results were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results: Analysis indicated that WOED offered something ‘new’ for both parties and was positively received. Clients were unlikely to have had the space to talk about BE before and guides were not used to offering one-to-one support. The relationship with the guide, intervention itself and client factors (e.g. engagement and access to positive social support) facilitated positive outcomes. Some areas of the manual and other client factors (mental/physical health problems, lack of social support, concrete focus on weight loss) presented barriers to engagement/change.
Discussion: Offering GSH targeting BE was well received prior to WM, but it may not be appropriate for all. Training for guides needs to reflect this and accommodate guides’ levels of experience, to enable wider dissemination of the programme. Further research is required to determine whether the addition of GSH prior to WM for BE participants increases the effectiveness and acceptability of subsequent WM interventions. Other clinical and research recommendations are made and strengths and limitations explored.
This doctoral thesis was subsequently written up for publication and can be found here: https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fclick.pstmrk.it%2F3ts%2Fwww.mdpi.com%252F2072-6643%252F17%252F7%252F1103%2FNBTI%2F9JW8AQ%2FAQ%2F63e1e929-8955-4c6f-b08b-c05fe32fa4e7%2F1%2FJhozO1hYY5&data=05%7C02%7Ccambridgeeast.rec%40hra.nhs.uk%7C65d2c98b40be4dc4209908dd7b22979b%7C8e1f0acad87d4f20939e36243d574267%7C0%7C0%7C638802110714210886%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=aceNV3k%2Bt%2BDqQKArbPg6bs0m%2F8O9ZwsrJfkil78Kn%2FI%3D&reserved=0
Finally, research participants that had requested to be made aware of the results of the study were emailed a link to WhiteRoseEtheses and a poster that summarised the objectives and outcomes of the study.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EE/0053
Date of REC Opinion
6 Feb 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion