Pilot Study of a Treatment Using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills for Adults with Overweight/Obesity and Emotional Eating

Abstract

The current study was a preliminary investigation of Live FREE, a pilot study of a treatment that included a combination of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and behavioral weight loss techniques for overweight/obese adult emotional eaters. Live FREE was based on the premise that impaired emotion regulation skills promote emotional eating behavior and lead to weight gain. Consistent with the ORBIT model of behavioral treatment development, the primary study aim was to refine the treatment protocol. Adults with overweight/obesity (n = 10) who self-identified as emotional eaters were enrolled in Live FREE and completed baseline and post-treatment assessments. The intervention delivered 10-weeks of emotion regulation skills training followed by 6-weeks of behavioral weight loss treatment in a group-based format. Pilot study findings resulted in several changes to the treatment protocol. Changes included reducing the number of skills introduced, extending session length, and reviewing DBT material. Ninety percent of subjects completed the program, and all of these participants attended 14–16 sessions total. Preliminary data showed significant improvements in BMI, emotional eating, emotion regulation, and DBT skills use over the course of the program. The Live FREE program was refined and is ready to be examined for clinically significant effects. Targeting emotion regulation in overweight/obese adult emotional eaters may be an effective strategy for enhancing weight loss. Future investigations should use a larger sample size, a longer follow-up period, and a randomized controlled trial design to examine the efficacy of Live FREE. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov. NCT04185506; retrospectively registered on 12/2/19. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04185506?cond=Freedom+from+emotional+eating&draw=2&rank=1