The Effects of Intuitive Eating on Body Appreciation and Dietary Restraint in College Females

Overview

College-aged women are at risk for eating disorders and disordered eating, which present serious health concerns. Two potent risk factors for eating disorders, body dissatisfaction and dietary restraint, are common among female college students. Intuitive eating is a strategy in which instead of listening to the predominant 'diet culture' and focusing on things like calories and energy balance, individuals practice listening to their internal physiological signals to decide when and what to eat and when to stop. Based on current research, intuitive eating has been shown to foster body satisfaction and healthy eating attitudes among women. The proposed pilot study will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an intuitive eating program for University of Delaware college women. In addition, this study will test the hypothesis that the intuitive eating program will reduce cognitive factors of body dissatisfaction and dietary restraint in females compared to a waitlisted group. Additionally, the investigators expect this reduction in dietary restraint to be associated with less disordered eating behavior. Exploratory aims include measuring engagement in disordered eating behaviors and changes in weight over the study period. This preliminary data will be used to estimate effect sizes for larger future trials.

The overall goal of the program is to challenge and eventually shift participant's mindset from the traditional diet culture towards a way of eating that is driven by their unique bodily needs. Thus, content will focus on training participant to listen to their internal body cues for hunger opposed to restricting or eliminating foods. A list of intuitive eating principles and ways to incorporate them into daily routines will be provided to the participants throughout the sessions, coupled with homework assignments, journaling, and exercises to be completed before subsequent sessions. This program will be delivered by two Registered Dietitians from the University of Delaware, Julia Katcher and Maryann Eastep. Both will have received training from https://www.helmpublishing.com/intuitive-eating-certificate-of-training-1891 and will have become Certified Intuitive Eating Counselors by the start of Spring 2019. After being screened for eligibility and meeting eligibility criteria, the individual will be emailed by the PI, who will invite the individual to participate in the study and enclose an invitation for their first intuitive eating class. This email will also include a copy of the consent form for them to review and decide if they want to commit to the study. If the individual is still interested in participating they will email the PI again to be placed on the participant list. After 24 individuals, who have met screening criteria, have indicated desire to participate, they will be randomized to one of two conditions: (1) First Intuitive Eating Group (IE1) offered once per week for 5 weeks; or (2) Second Intuitive Eating Group (IE2), who will receive the same intuitive eating course after the first group has concluded. Baseline assessments will be conducted on all participants, both IE1 and IE2, on the same day, at the beginning of the first intuitive eating class for IE1 group. These assessments will be conducted by the project staff identified above. The assessment should not take longer than 30 minutes. When the participants arrive, they will first have the opportunity to discuss the study with the PI, ask any questions or address any concerns they might have and if interested, sign the consent form. Consent forms will be provided, prior to the initial assessment and the intuitive eating class beginning, to be reviewed and signed in the presence of the PI. After signing the consent form, then they will fill out the questionnaire. The investigators will measure attitudes about body satisfaction and eating. Lastly, the individuals will have their questionnaires checked by a member of the research team to ensure completion. After signing the consent form and turning in their questionnaires, participants will receive their group assignment. They will either be assigned to the first intuitive eating group (IE1) or the second intuitive eating group (IE2). If they were assigned to the IE1 group, they will complete their first class immediately following the baseline assessment at the beginning of the Spring 2019 semester. If they are assigned to the IE2 group, they will complete their first intuitive eating class the week after IE1's 5-week intuitive eating course has been completed. Each group will be able to attend up to 5 intuitive eating sessions that are 60 minutes long for a total of 5 weeks. Participation in the intuitive eating program will be tracked by documenting presence or absence at each intuitive eating session. A member of the research team will be responsible for documenting this and also checking fidelity to the curriculum. An additional baseline assessment will be conducted on the IE2 Group at the beginning of their first intuitive eating class. This assessment protocol will be identical to the one they attended, as described above, on the first day the IE1 group began their intuitive eating course. The assessment should not take longer than 30 minutes. End-of-study assessments will be completed on the last day of the participant's intuitive eating program. The assessment should not take longer than 30 minutes. At the last intuitive eating classes for each session, the investigators will measure attitudes about body satisfaction and eating, height, and weight. A program evaluation survey will be passed out during the end of the last intuitive eating class for both IE1 and IE2. This is to assess the effectiveness of the intuitive eating program and to receive feedback from participants on where the investigators can improve this program. This program evaluation is included with this application. IE1 will be asked to come back for an additional final assessment and feedback session on the last session day of IE2's intuitive eating course. IE1 will be in a separate room where they will have the chance to discuss and provide program feedback to the Graduate and Undergraduate Research Assistants. They will also fill out a program evaluation survey (for the second time), as described above. IE2 will be in the room where their last session just concluded where they will fill out the final survey, as described above, and will have their height and weight measured. Once both groups are finished in each room, they will switch and go through the same protocol as the last group did in that room