HealthMedia, Incorporated, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Int J Eat Disord. 2011 Nov;44(7):639-46. doi: 10.1002/eat.20844. Epub 2010 Oct 26.
While digital coaching self-help interventions to facilitate behavioral change are offered increasingly on the Internet, few studies have examined who uses them. This study examined demographic and clinical characteristics of adults who accessed a self-help program for binge eaters made available to them via their employers or health plans.
Cross-sectional data from 4,051 men and women who registered for the online program during a 13-month period were used. Gender differences and differences across three diagnostic groupings based on self-reported symptoms were tested using t-tests and ANOVAs (dimensional variables) or Chi-Square analyses (categorical variables).
More women (3,053) than men (998) accessed the program. A majority of participants reported binge eating below frequency levels required for a clinical diagnosis, yet reported high levels of motivation to overcome their eating binges. Few had received prior treatment for an eating disorder. Although women reported greater symptomatology on most variables, these differences typically reflected small effects. Comparisons of diagnostic subgroups found few differences between those with probable diagnoses of bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder.
Digital coaching programs may be a viable treatment option, particularly for individuals with infrequent binge eating who otherwise might not seek or receive treatment.
虽然数字辅导自助干预措施越来越多地在互联网上提供，以促进行为改变，但很少有研究探讨谁在使用它们。本研究调查了通过雇主或健康计划提供给暴食者的自助计划中访问者的人口统计学和临床特征。
使用了在 13 个月期间注册在线计划的 4051 名男性和女性的横断面数据。使用 t 检验和方差分析（维度变量）或卡方分析（分类变量）测试了性别差异和基于自我报告症状的三个诊断分组之间的差异。
更多的女性（3053 名）比男性（998 名）访问了该计划。大多数参与者报告的暴食频率低于临床诊断所需的水平，但报告了克服暴食冲动的高度动机。很少有人接受过饮食障碍的前期治疗。尽管女性在大多数变量上报告了更多的症状，但这些差异通常反映了较小的影响。对诊断亚组的比较发现，神经性贪食症或暴食障碍的可能诊断之间几乎没有差异。
数字辅导计划可能是一种可行的治疗选择，特别是对于那些暴食不频繁但可能不会寻求或接受治疗的人。
