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Eating disorders (EDs), including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, are complex, distressing and debilitating disorders that affect a significant proportion of adolescents. Maladaptive beliefs about eating and body image are well-established cognitive risk factors for the development and maintenance of EDs; therefore, targeting these beliefs is an important component of prevention programs. This randomized trial evaluated the effects of a cognitive behavioral framework-based mobile application designed to reduce vulnerability to EDs by targeting associated maladaptive beliefs. Method : A non-clinical sample of adolescents ( n = 93; M age = 13.9; 56 girls) was randomized to use a mobile application targeting maladaptive beliefs related to EDs for approximately 5 min a day during a 2-week period. The non-active control group used the same app, for the same period of time but with neutral content. Maladaptive belief related to EDs, ED symptoms, body satisfaction and self-esteem were measured at baseline (T1), immediately after two weeks of mobile application use (T2), and at 1-month follow-up (T3). Data obtained indicated that relative to those in the control condition, adolescents that used the application demonstrated a decrease in some ED-related maladaptive beliefs and symptoms. These effects were small-to-medium size and were maintained at 1-month. No significant effects were found regarding depression, body satisfaction or self-esteem. These results underscore the potential usefulness of brief, low-intensity, mobile interventions in reducing vulnerability to EDs in the adolescent population. • GGED-AD, a CBT-based mobile application, reduces maladaptive beliefs and eating disorder symptoms in non-clinical adolescents • Intervention effects were small-to-medium in size and maintained at 1-month follow-up. • Results suggest the utility of brief, low-intensity mobile interventions for reducing vulnerability to eating disorders in adolescents. • GGED-AD is the first app adapted for adolescents to reduce ED-risk factors.
Corberán et al. (Tue,) studied this question.