The effect of eHealth-based guided self help interventions for binge eating disorder : a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

With rapid technological advancements, eHealth-based guided self-help interventions have become accessible, flexible, cost-effective, and stigma-reducing treatment options for binge eating disorder (BED). This meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of these interventions in individuals diagnosed with BED or showing BED symptoms, based on eight randomized controlled trials with 1,575 participants. Intervention length varied between a single session to four months. Six studies focused solely on web-based guided self-help interventions, one study implemented a hybrid approach combining face-to-face and online components, and another study employed two distinct online guided self-help methods. The interventions included psychoeducational modules, therapist feedback, online behavior monitoring, and self-assessments. eHealth-based guided self-help significantly reduced binge eating psychopathology (SMD: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.20–0.86) and objective binge eating (OBE) days (SMD: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.12–0.85) compared to controls. These interventions offer effective solutions for individuals facing barriers to traditional treatment access.