ABSTRACT
AIM: Young women with type 1 diabetes are a high-risk population for eating disorders (ED). Prevention programs are lacking. In young women without diabetes, the Body Project has produced reductions in ED risk factors, ED symptoms and future ED onset. Therefore, the Body Project was adapted to type 1 diabetes, the Diabetes Body Project (DBP). In this protocol, we describe the multi-site randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate efficacy of the DBP. METHODS: This is an ongoing RCT with four sites (Europe and US). In total 280, 14-35 year-old, women with type 1 diabetes ≥1 year and some level of body image concerns will be recruited in 2023. Participants are randomized to either virtual DBP groups or an educational control. The study constitutes 5 measurement points distributed over 2 years. The primary aim is to test if DBP will produce significantly greater reductions in ED behaviours, ED symptoms and future ED onset. The secondary aim is to test if DBP has significantly greater improvements in diabetes distress, quality of life and glycaemic outcomes. RESULTS: We expect that DBP will be more efficacious in reducing ED behaviours, ED symptoms and ED onset compared to the control condition. Additionally, we hope to gain new knowledge on how DBP may affect diabetes-related outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: If DBP proves efficacious, it has potential for immediate, clinical implementation at low-cost and may contribute to broad prevention of future ED onset among young women with type 1 diabetes. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT05399446.
ABSTRACT
AIMS: Disordered eating behaviour (DEB) in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) can be screened with the Diabetes Eating Problem Survey-Revised (DEPS-R). This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the DEPS-R among Dutch adults with T1D and to explore the individual items alongside the standard cut-off score of ≥20 for clinical use. METHODS: The construct validity of the DEPS-R was assessed with an exploratory factor analysis, through principal axis factoring and with Spearman correlations between clinical variables and the DEPS-R. Backward logistic regression identified clinical predictors for DEPS-R scores above the cut-off. DEPS-R item responses were summarized with frequencies, means and standard deviations. RESULTS: Participants were 145 adults with T1D, of whom 79.3% were women and 35.9% presented with DEB based on the cut-off. A single-factor solution of the DEPS-R showed good internal consistency, while a three-factor solution showed acceptable to good internal consistency within the factors. A younger age, a higher BMI and more diabetes distress were predictors for a DEPS-R cut-off score of ≥20. Clinically relevant items were identified that contributed minimally to the DEPS-R score. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports a single-factor and a three-factor structure of the DEPS-R while also suggesting an item-specific or factor-specific approach in clinical practice.
