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Examining sex as a predictor and moderator of treatment outcomes for binge‐eating disorder: Analysis of aggregated randomized controlled trials
Author(s) -
Lydecker Janet A.,
Gueorguieva Ralitza,
Masheb Robin,
White Marney A.,
Grilo Carlos M.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.23167
Subject(s) - psychopathology , randomized controlled trial , binge eating , binge eating disorder , moderation , psychology , cognitive behavioral therapy , eating disorders , clinical psychology , weight loss , cognitive therapy , depression (economics) , psychiatry , bulimia nervosa , medicine , cognition , obesity , social psychology , macroeconomics , economics
Objective This study examined whether sex predicted and/or moderated treatment outcomes among men and women who participated in binge‐eating disorder (BED) randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Method Data were aggregated from RCTs performed at one medical center. RCTs tested cognitive‐behavioral therapy, behavioral weight loss, multimodal treatment, and/or control conditions. Participants were 660 adults, both men ( n = 170) and women ( n = 490), with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual‐fourth edition ( DSM‐IV )‐defined BED. Doctoral‐level research‐clinicians assessed participants using structured interviews and established self‐report measures of eating‐disorder psychopathology and depression, and measured height and weight. Assessments occurred at baseline, throughout treatment, and at post‐treatment. Results Sex was not a significant moderator of any treatment outcomes. Mixed models revealed sex had a main effect: men had lower eating‐disorder psychopathology and lost more weight than women over the course of treatment. Discussion Both epidemiological and RCT studies report disparities in treatment‐seeking between men and women with BED. Despite this, men have comparable or better treatment outcomes compared with women, including significantly greater weight loss. Thus, disseminating evidence‐based BED treatments is promising for both men and women. Additional research is necessary, however, to understand treatment effects—including other predictors and moderators of outcomes—across diverse providers, treatment settings, and patient groups.