Comparison of a Telehealth Versus In-person Intervention for Binge Eating

Episodes and frequency of binge eating and binge eating behaviors via the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. Two items from this scale will be used to assess for the number of episodes and frequency of binge eating. Participants are asked to respond with numeric values to these items according to their subjective view (e.g., may write "8" to to represent eight episodes of binge eating over the past 28 days). Partcipants provide a numeric response from 0+ (no maximum number). Higher scores indicate more episodes of binge eating.

Participants will be asked open-ended questions in an interview format about the feasibility of attending and engaging in a binge eating intervention (telehealth or in-person). For example, one of the items asks, "Were there too many sessions or just enough?"

Participants will be asked nine questions developed by the author and collaborators about how acceptable they found the intervention (telehealth or in-person) to be (e.g., "I would recommend this program to a friend or family member who has difficulty with binge eating"). Six of the questions can be answered with either "Yes", "No", or "Don't know." The remaining three items are open-ended.

Engagement in body image avoidance behaviors (e.g., actively refraining from looking in the mirror) assessed via the Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire. Participants can respond according to a Likert scale of 1 (Rarely or Never) through 5 (Always). The total score can range from 0 to 95. Higher scores indicate greater body image avoidance.

The extent to which participants place large value on their appearance assessed via the Beliefs About Appearance Scale. Participants can respond according to a Likert scale of 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Extremely). Higher scores indicate greater appearance overvaluation.

Engagement in behaviors representative of disordered eating (e.g., restriction of diet, excessive exercise, etc.) assessed via the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. Most of the questions are answered by responding to a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (No days) to 6 (Every day). Other items require a response in a numeric value provided by the participant (e.g., "6" for "6 days"). Other items require a response using a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Not at all) to 6 (Markedly). Participants who identify as "female" are also asked an additional question where they can either mark "yes" or "no." In all cases, positive or higher scores indicate greater engagement in disordered eating.

Engagement in impulsive behaviors (e.g., sensation-seeking) assessed via the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS-P = urgency, premeditation, perseverance, sensation seeking, and positive urgency...it is not usually spelled out). Participants are asked to respond using a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (Agree strongly) to 3 (Disagree strongly). Higher scores indicate higher levels of impulsivity.

Current engagement in mindful activities or practices assessed via the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills. Participants are asked to respond using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Never or very rarely true) to 5 (Very often or always true). Higher scores indicate more, or greater, use of mindfulness skills.

Ability to regulate or suppress emotions or engage in cognitive reappraisal are assessed via the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Participants are asked to respond according to a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). Higher scores indicate greater use of cognitive reappraisal and emotional suppression.

Ability to tolerate distress assessed via the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS). Participants are asked to respond according to a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). Higher scores indicate greater, or higher, distress tolerance.

Level of food insecurity assessed via the United States Household Food Security Survey Module: Six-item Short Form. Items are multiple choice (e.g., "often true", "sometimes true", "never true", or "don't know or refuse to answer"). Scores are coded and then scored such that higher scores indicate greater, or higher, food insecurity. Scores can range from 0 to 6.

The Questionnaire on Weight and Eating Patterns, Revised, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Version 5 (QEWP-5) will be used to assess and diagnose individuals with binge eating disorder. Items are assessed using multiple choice and open-ended questions. Scores are summed together to determine whether the criteria for binge eating disorder are met.