O-56: Effects of the diabetes body project, an eating disorder prevention program for women with type 1 diabetes, at 1-year Follow-Up: a randomized trial
M de Wit, E Stice, M Hennekes, S Haugvik, E Toschi, L WistingAbstract
Introduction
Young women with type 1 diabetes are at increased risk of eating disorders (ED) and disordered eating behaviors. The dissonance-based Diabetes Body Project prevention program showed to reduces ED risk factors and symptoms among women with type 1 diabetes directly after the intervention in a large multinational randomized trial.
Objectives
To evaluate whether the positive effects of the Diabetes Body Project maintain at 1-year follow-up.
Methods
Young women (aged 14-35) with type 1 diabetes and body image concerns (N = 293) for Norway, the US and the Netherlands were randomized to virtually delivered Diabetes Body Project groups or an educational video control condition, completing measures at pretest, posttest, and 1-year follow-up.
Results
At baseline, mean age of participants was 25 (5.5) years with a mean diabetes duration of 11 (6) years. Mean HbA1c was 7% (0.96) and TIR 66% (17). 98% wore a sensor and 79% used an insulin pump. Compared to controls, Diabetes Body Project participants still showed significant improvements after 1 year with small Cohen’s d effect sizes for eating disorder symptoms (primary outcome) (d = 0.30), body dissatisfaction (d = 0.49), pursuit of thin appearance ideal (d = 0.48), diabetes distress (d = 0.32), and dietary restraint (d = 0.29), and medium effect size for diabetes-specific disordered eating behaviors (d = 0.50). No intervention effects were found for quality of life, HbA1c, and % blood glucose time-in-range.
Conclusions
The virtually delivered Diabetes Body Project decreased eating disorder risk factors and symptoms in young women with type 1 diabetes, with effects persisting over 1 year, suggesting it would be useful to implement this eating disorder prevention program for this unique population at ultra-high-risk for eating pathology.