CBT, iCBT, and Virtual Reality in the Battle Against Eating Addiction
There’s been a lot of talk of using the GLP-1 agonists for weight loss, both adults and children. However, there’s a solid case that they won’t replace interventions like 12 steps, displacement theory-based interventions, good old exercise, and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). Let’s discuss CBT — the internet-based CBT (iCBT) in particular.
Studies show promising results
According to an article published in the Journal of Affective Disorders and reposted on ScienceDirect, patients with binge spectrum eating disorders often struggle to access standardized treatment. iCBT significantly improves clinical symptoms associated with these disorders. One meta-analysis demonstrates the clinical efficacy and acceptability of iCBT for binge spectrum eating disorders, “significantly [improving] clinical symptoms associated with these disorders.”
The meta-study searched databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO, collecting relevant information up to August 2023, shaping it into 11 randomized controlled studies. Results showed that iCBT “significantly improves pathological eating behaviors, reduces binge episodes, alleviates depressive and anxious emotions, and enhances self-esteem in patients.” A PubMed article shared on ResearchGate also reported positive results, stating that CBT “is the leading evidence-based treatment for bulimia nervosa.”
Virtual reality as a tool to fight obesity
The Obesity Care Clinic published a lengthy article about the potential of virtual reality (VR) as a tool to fight against obesity, noting that “traditional approaches like dietary interventions and physical activity remain essential.”
Building a case for VR as an emerging tool, the article’s author and Obesity Care Clinic’s CEO, Dr Stéphane Bach, writes:
VR has already shown potential in various healthcare applications, including surgical training and mental health interventions. In obesity behavioral therapy, VR offers a unique opportunity to create immersive experiences that facilitate behavior change and support weight loss efforts. By leveraging exposure therapy, realistic visualization, and gamification, VR-based interventions can help individuals develop healthier eating habits and overcome challenges associated with traditional therapy methods.
According to Dr. Bach, VR has been making significant strides in healthcare for several decades. The concept dates back to the 1990s when researchers began exploring its potential in areas like surgical training and phobia treatment. Since then, advancements in VR technology have led to more sophisticated and immersive systems, expanding the range of healthcare applications. Today, VR is used in various medical fields, from medical education and patient rehabilitation to mental health interventions and pain management.
The advantages VR can offer include:
- Creating realistic, immersive simulations that closely mimic real-world scenarios
- Enabling personalized, engaging, and interactive interventions
- Enhancing patient adherence and motivation
- Ability to access it remotely, a convenient and cost-effective alternative to traditional in-person treatments.
Potential uses might be:
Exposure Therapy for Food Cravings: VR can expose individuals to virtual representations of their trigger foods, teaching coping strategies to reduce the intensity and frequency of food cravings. This approach is similar to exposure therapy used in treating anxiety disorders and phobias.
Realistic Portion Size Visualization: VR can provide realistic visualizations of portion sizes, helping individuals understand and adhere to appropriate serving sizes, thus preventing overeating.
Gamification of Healthy Eating Habits: VR can gamify healthy eating habits, incorporating points, rewards, and challenges to motivate healthier food choices and commitment to weight loss goals.
Of course, to fully realize the potential of VR in obesity behavioral therapy, challenges related to technical limitations, cost and accessibility, integration with existing treatment programs, and the need for long-term efficacy studies must be addressed. We’ll stay tuned.
Finally, a reminder: The ability to rechannel displacement into less harmless activities rather than succumbing to urges is behind the behavior modification app, BrainWeighve, currently ramping up for a trial through the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). The trial focuses on weight loss for obese teens using “a self-directed, physician-supervised program withdrawing from one problem food at a time.”
Your responses and feedback are welcome!
Source: “The efficacy of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for adult binge spectrum eating disorders: A meta-analysis,” ScienceDirect (Journal of Affective Disorders), 9/15/24
Source: “Virtual Reality as a Frontier in Obesity Behavioural Therapy: Immersive Diet Control,” Obesity Care Clinic, 6/21/24
Source: “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders,” ResearchGate/PubMed, September 2010.
Image by Mitch on Unsplash
