A three-arm randomised controlled trial of a telehealth intervention targeting improvement in addictive eating for Australian adults (the TRACE program)

Janelle A Skinner; Mark Leary; Megan Whatnall; Rebecca A Collins; Kirrilly M Pursey; Antonio Verdejo-Garcia; Phillipa J Hay; Amanda L Baker; Leanne Hides; Susan J Paxton; Lisa G Wood; Kim Colyvas; Clare E Collins; Tracy L Burrows

doi:10.1016/j.appet.2024.107211

A three-arm randomised controlled trial of a telehealth intervention targeting improvement in addictive eating for Australian adults (the TRACE program)

Appetite. 2024 Apr 1:195:107211. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107211. Epub 2024 Jan 11.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia.
² School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
³ Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, 2751, Australia; Mental Health Services, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals, NSW, 2560, Australia.
⁴ Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia; School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
⁵ School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
⁶ Department of Psychology and Counselling, Latrobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia.
⁷ Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
⁸ School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
⁹ School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia. Electronic address: tracy.burrows@newcastle.edu.au.

PMID: 38215944
DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107211

Abstract

There is a substantial research base for addictive eating with development of interventions. The current 3-arm RCT aimed to investigate the efficacy of the TRACE (Targeted Research for Addictive and Compulsive Eating) program to decrease addictive eating symptoms and improve mental health. Participants (18-85 yrs) endorsing ≥3 addictive eating symptoms were randomly allocated to 1) active intervention, 2) passive intervention, or 3) control group. Primary outcome was change in addictive eating symptoms 3-months post-baseline measured by the Yale Food Addiction Scale. Depression, anxiety and stress were also assessed. A total of 175 individuals were randomised. Using Linear Mixed Models, from baseline to 3-months, there was significant improvement in symptom scores in all groups with mean decrease of 4.7 (95% CI: -5.8, -3.6; p < 0.001), 3.8 (95% CI: -5.2, -2.4; p < 0.001) and 1.5 (95% CI: -2.6, -0.4; p = 0.01) respectively. Compared with the control group, participants in the active intervention were five times more likely to achieve a clinically significant change in symptom scores. There was a significant reduction in depression scores in the active and passive intervention groups, but not control group [-2.9 (95% CI: -4.5, -1.3); -2.3 (95% CI: -4.3, -0.3); 0.5 (95% CI: -1.1, 2.1), respectively]; a significant reduction in stress scores within the active group, but not passive intervention or control groups [-1.3 (95% CI: -2.2, -0.5); -1.0 (95% CI: -2.1, 0.1); 0.4 (95% CI: -0.5, 1.2), respectively]; and the reduction in anxiety scores over time was similar for all groups. A dietitian-led telehealth intervention for addictive eating in adults was more effective than a passive or control condition in reducing addictive eating scores from baseline to 6 months. Trial registration: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12621001079831.

Keywords: Addictive eating; Anxiety; Depression; Food addiction; Mental health; Stress; Yale food addiction scale.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Anxiety / psychology
Anxiety / therapy
Anxiety Disorders
Australia
Behavior, Addictive*
Humans
Telemedicine*