# Weight Loss Treatment and CBT for Veterans with Binge Eating

> **NIH VA I01** · VA CONNECTICUT HEALTHCARE SYSTEM · 2021 · —

## Abstract

The objective of this research is to address the dual problems of overweight/obesity and binge eating
among Veterans. Obesity is a leading cause of preventable death and one of the most serious public health
problems faced by our nation. Binge eating is a common problem found amongst overweight/obese individuals
that poses additional risk for psychiatric and medical comorbidity. Of great concern for the Veterans Health
Administration (VHA) is that Veterans are disproportionately affected by obesity; 77 percent of Veterans
seeking healthcare through the VHA are classified as overweight/obese compared to 68 percent of the general
population. Also of concern is that binge eating is a highly prevalent problem among Veterans. Over 78 percent
of Veterans seeking weight loss treatment through the VHA experience some binge eating, and almost half
experience recurrent binge eating, defined as engaging in binge eating at least once per week. Evidence
suggests that individuals who report recurrent binge eating have significant clinical impairment or distress
despite not meeting full diagnostic criteria for Binge Eating Disorder (BED). In clinical trials it is unequivocal
that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the best-established treatment for BED, and that guided self-help
CBT (gshCBT) is the preferred first-line approach. While CBT produces robust and lasting effects for binge
eating and mental health, the effect on weight loss has been shown to be minimal at best. Our previous work,
and the work of others, has demonstrated better weight outcomes, but worse binge eating and mental health
outcomes, for patients with BED who receive weight loss treatment compared to CBT. To capitalize on the best
of both treatments, we have recently completed an NIH-funded efficacy trial that combined manualized
behavioral weight loss treatment with CBT in a sample of overweight/obese non-Veterans with clinical BED.
Findings demonstrated that when CBT is combined with behavioral weight loss treatment that the benefits on
binge eating are not compromised by the weight loss intervention, and that there are additional and significant
improvements in weight and metabolic outcomes. The proposed study will address binge eating in Veterans, a
population that has been overlooked with regard to this problem. Additionally, this effectiveness trial will extend
the predominately efficacy treatment literature by leveraging the existing program for weight management
within the VHA, and treating patients with both clinical and subclinical BED. Overweight/obese Veterans with at
least recurrent binge eating, who are recruited through orientation sessions for the VHA weight management
program, MOVE!, will be eligible to participate. Participants will be randomized to receive MOVE! (treatment-
as-usual) or MOVE!+gshCBT. Given the VHA strategic plan to address the needs of women Veterans, we will
also oversample for women. Major outcome assessments will be performed by an independent evalu...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10186491
- **Project number:** 5I01HX002028-04
- **Recipient organization:** VA CONNECTICUT HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
- **Principal Investigator:** Robin Meryl Masheb
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10186491

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10186491, Weight Loss Treatment and CBT for Veterans with Binge Eating (5I01HX002028-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10186491. Licensed CC0.

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