Abstract
This study examined whether adding a compassion-focused light touch digital intervention into a commercial
multicomponent weight management programme improved eating behaviour, self-evaluation and weightrelated
outcomes. The compassion intervention significantly reduced binge eating symptomatology
and dropout, and improved psychological adjustment and self-evaluation, but did not affect weight
outcomes. Compassion, self-reassurance and reductions in shame and self-criticism mediated the effect
of the intervention on reductions of binge eating symptomatology. Negative self-evaluation, binge eating
symptomatology, susceptibility to hunger and eating guilt were significant predictors of dropout. Findings
suggest that compassion-based digital tools may help participants better manage binge eating symptomatology
and self-evaluation in weight management interventions.
Year
2021
Category
Refereed journal