A randomized controlled trial of brief interoceptive exposure and family-based treatment for adolescents with low-weight eating disorders.
Robyn Sysko, Kurt P Schulz, Tom Hildebrandt
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial compared six sessions of interoceptive exposure (IE) with six sessions of family-based treatment (FBT) in adolescents diagnosed with a low-weight eating disorder. At post-treatment, the IE group consumed more energy during laboratory meals than the FBT group: the between-group mean difference was 98.12 kcal for single-item meals and 137.11 kcal for multi-item meals. Adjusted percentage of expected body weight did not differ significantly between groups. The findings indicate a change in measured eating behavior with IE, but not a demonstrated advantage in weight outcome.
Key findings
- IE participants consumed 98.12 kcal more than FBT participants during the post-treatment single-item meal (d = 0.82).
- IE participants consumed 137.11 kcal more than FBT participants during the post-treatment multi-item meal (d = 0.45).
- Age- and sex-adjusted percentage of expected body weight did not differ significantly between treatment groups.
- Adolescents with low-weight eating disorders reported more symptoms on all clinical measures than healthy controls.
Why it matters
Laboratory meal intake provides a behavioral outcome distinct from weight change. In this trial, brief IE was associated with greater post-treatment energy consumption than FBT on both meal tests, while adjusted expected body weight was not significantly different. This suggests that treatment effects may vary by outcome and supports further evaluation of eating behavior alongside weight and clinical measures.
What to keep in mind
The intervention comprised only six sessions, and the authors state that further research using fully expanded versions of the treatments is needed.