Large International Randomized Controlled Trial Highlights a Promising Adjunct Treatment for Eating Disorders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 2, 2024

Large International Randomized Controlled Trial Highlights a Promising Adjunct Treatment for Eating Disorders

December 2, 2024 —  A groundbreaking study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders finds an innovative intervention can significantly improve outcomes in those who have lived with eating disorders for more than a decade. The study provides compelling evidence that peer-supported, embodied approaches can lead to substantial improvements in eating disorder symptoms, including among those with long-standing conditions who have not responded to previous treatments.

The randomized controlled trial evaluated the Eat Breathe Thrive Recovery program (EBT-R) and included 277 participants from 27 countries, aged 18 to 65. Nearly 70% of participants had been living with eating disorders for over a decade—a population often labeled as having “severe and enduring eating disorders” and described as resistant to treatment.  Notably, 64% of participants had previously attempted therapy, and 22% had undergone inpatient treatment, yet had not achieved recovery prior to participating in this study. 

Key Findings

The study found that the four-week intervention resulted in significant improvements, including:

• Reductions in eating disorder symptoms, depression, and anxiety

• Increases in protective mental health factors; including interoception, body trust, self-regulation, body appreciation, mindful self-care, and intuitive eating

• Critically, eating disorder symptoms decreased from above the clinical cutoff to below the cutoff post-intervention—a remarkable improvement for a four-week virtual intervention.

Importantly, most changes were not only sustained but improved further at a three-month follow-up, suggesting that participants continued to apply and benefit from the skills they had learned.

Expanding Treatment for Those with Long-Standing Eating Disorders

The study responds to a growing call for eating disorder treatments that go beyond symptom management, especially for patients who have not yet responded to treatment. While conventional treatments often focus on reducing disordered eating behaviors, EBT emphasizes equipping individuals with practical skills to build a meaningful quality of life, improve their relationships with self and others, and foster a positive relationship with their bodies.

Developed collaboratively by individuals with lived experience of eating disorders, researchers, and clinicians, EBT has been tested and refined over more than a decade. Its development has been informed by implementation in over 50 countries, allowing the intervention to address the diverse challenges faced by individuals with eating disorders in different cultural and clinical contexts.

About the Study

The trial was led by Dr. Catherine Cook Cottone, Ph.D., and conducted by researchers at the University at Buffalo and the University of Munich. This study is one of the largest randomized controlled trials for eating disorder interventions to date and provides robust evidence for innovative treatment approaches.

About Eat Breathe Thrive

Eat Breathe Thrive is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing and supporting recovery from eating disorders. Since 2013, it has served over 17,000 people in 58 countries through eating disorder prevention and recovery programs that integrate skill-building,  yoga, and peer support.

Contact Information

For media inquiries, please contact: Melanie Taylor, melanie@eatbreathethhrive.org