Counseling and Guided Self-Help Outcomes for Clients With Bulimia Nervosa: A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials From 1980 to 2010

Eating disorders, embodiment, and yoga: a conceptual overview

Yoga and its relation to embodiment and disordered eating has only recently received research attention. Nevertheless, early research indicates that yoga is an effective tool in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. It is assumed that yoga ameliorates eating disorder symptoms and facilitates a shift from negative towards positive body image and well-being by cultivating positive embodiment (i.e., the ability to feel a sense of connection between mind and body). In order to provide the context of the constructs of disordered eating, embodiment, and yoga, this article presents a brief overview and conceptualization of these constructs. The three major eating disorders and current treatment methods are described. Further, the philosophical roots and theoretical models of embodiment are delineated and their communal core features are outlined. Lastly, the origin, basic principles, and modern interpretations of yoga are discussed.

Group psychotherapy for eating disorders: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

In the current meta-analysis, we review the effect of group psychotherapy compared to both wait-list controls and other active treatments for adults with eating disorders (EDs).

METHOD

Twenty-seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that provide direct comparisons with a total of 1,853 participants were included.

RESULTS

Group psychotherapy is significantly more effective than wait-list controls at achieving abstinence rates of binge eating and/or purging (RR = 5.51, 95% CI: 3.73, 8.12), decreasing the frequency of binge eating and/or purging (g = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.90), and reducing related ED psychopathology (g = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.32, 0.66) after treatment. The effects of group psychotherapy and other active treatments (e.g., behavioral weight loss, self-help, individual psychotherapy) did not differ on any outcome at post-treatment or at follow-ups. Group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other forms of group psychotherapy did not differ significantly on outcomes at any time point.

DISCUSSION

Additional research is needed to evaluate other group psychotherapy approaches, along with CBT, to provide more evidence-based treatment options for individuals with an ED. Group psychotherapy appears as effective as other common treatments and is perhaps more cost-effective than the most popular treatment, individual psychotherapy. Only 8.33% of comparisons in the current meta-analysis had at least 80% power to detect a moderate effect (d = .50) and we recommend that future RCTs be adequately powered.

Incorporating positive body image into the treatment of eating disorders: A model for attunement and mindful self-care

This article provides a model for understanding the role positive body image can play in the treatment of eating disorders and methods for guiding patients away from symptoms and toward flourishing. The Attuned Representational Model of Self (Cook-Cottone, 2006) and a conceptual model detailing flourishing in the context of body image and eating behavior (Cook-Cottone et al., 2013) are discussed. The flourishing inherent in positive body image comes hand-in-hand with two critical ways of being: (a) having healthy, embodied awareness of the internal and external aspects of self (i.e., attunement) and (b) engaging in mindful self-care. Attunement and mindful self-care thus are considered as potential targets of actionable therapeutic work in the cultivation of positive body image among those with disordered eating. For context, best-practices in eating disorder treatment are also reviewed. Limitations in current research are detailed and directions for future research are explicated.