Identification, prevention, and treatment of binge eating disorder in adolescents and adults with obesity

Research idea and purpose: The purpose of the project is to develop methods to detect, prevent and treat binge eating disorder in patients with concurrent obesity.

The project is based on creating a collaboration between researchers and clinicians with expertise in eating disorders and obesity as well as with patient representatives, and is based on three work packages:Make a screening questionnaire available in Swedish that assesses loss of control eating and binge eating in people with obesity.Identify and develop a method for preventing binge eating disorder in adolescents and young adults with obesity experiencing loss of control eating.In collaboration with researchers at the Yale School of Medicine, USA, translate and adapt their cognitive behavioral therapy model to treat obesity and binge eating disorder simultaneously.Work plan, methods and project realisation:The structure is similar for work packages 1–3The project manager identifies and suggests potential screening questionnaires and interventions (packages 1 and 2).

The researchers at Yale share their program and experiences.All participants meet for workshops, where it is decided which methods should be prioritized and how to translate and adapt to Swedish.Translation and adaptation are conducted.Investigation of how the method is accepted by patients and its feasibility in clinical settings.

Two Swedish obesity clinics are involved.The involved researchers plan a randomized trial to study the effect of the intervention in Sweden.Societal relevance and utilisation: Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder and is significantly more common in people with obesity.

At the same time, knowledge is limited, and Swedish obesity care does not systematically screen for and prevent binge eating. Treatment of eating disorders and obesity is carried out in silos without collaboration between clinics. This project enables access to evidence-based care to a vulnerable and undertreated patient group.

Offering interventions as early as possible, may prevent chronic disease.The project group consists of well-established clinicians, researchers and patient representatives with high legitimacy in the areas of eating disorders and obesity.

Future implementation is facilitated by exploring how the screening and the interventions are accepted in clinics.The planning of well-designed studies with widely accepted methods enables a future application for a project grant.