Because I am currently parenting four teenagers this article on binge eating caught my eye. So far, only our older adopted and foster daughters have struggled with binge eating. Like many adoptive parents, we are willing to try anything at least once to help our traumatized children adjust to a normal life. This is an internet program that requires just a half an hour on line each week for 16 weeks. Because teenagers usually enjoy being on the internet anyway, it shouldn’t be too difficult to talk your teenager into taking a look at this program. California researchers reported that even though most participants only followed through with using the program for eight weeks, most were able to reduce binge eating and work towards maintaining a healthy weight.

The research team modeled the 16 week online intervention on an eating disorder prevention program known as SB2-BED. The program uses psycho education and behavioral interventions like stimulus control and self-monitoring to reduce binge eating and setting around, and increase healthy eating, physical activity, and maintaining weight.

High school students were randomly assigned by researchers either to participate in the program or to join a wait-list "control" group. The students assigned consisted of 105 male and females who were at risk for becoming overweight. After completing the program, the students in the intervention group had significantly lower body mass indexes than the control group. The intervention group also reported significantly fewer episodes of binge eating and body shape concerns, according to the report in the medical journal Pediatrics.

The article suggests that creative solutions are needed to address the obesity epidemic in this country. I am sure that the Internet can be one of many effective tools for providing intervention. I have noticed some new approaches in our community during the past year to address childhood obesity by engaging the entire family in fitness and healthy eating. The focus of our family fun center has shifted to family fitness by lowering fees in the winter and planning family exercise. Our organized sports groups that have always been for children have been adding adult coed teams to their rosters. Perhaps you have noticed changes in your community as well.

Photo Credit Julia Fuller 2007