Technology-Based Prevention and Treatment Programs of Eating Disorders

Abstract

The present chapter provides an overview of prevention and treatment strategies using digital technologies to target eating disorders. We review the development of the prevention and treatment discourse, which has added digital technologies to its repertoire of tools in the last two decades. Next, we review current research on approaches proven effective in technology-based prevention and treatment of eating disorders, we sum up the advantages and limitations of the use of digital technologies in this field, and we give specific examples of current prevention and treatment programs. We put more focus on methods proven effective in treatment and prevention of eating disorders, so that professionals can access knowledge which may be applied in their practice. Further, we discuss some of the basic conditions identified in research as essential for technology-based methods of prevention and treatment to be effective. For prevention, these conditions include the focus on specific characteristics of vulnerable populations, interactivity, and multi-session structured programs. In the case of treatment, psychotherapy using technology as a communication medium and guided technology-based self-help were superior to strategies which rely on unguided self-help. Generally, technology-based prevention and treatment have been proven as efficacious and cost-effective in reducing characteristics related to eating disorders. However, there is some evidence that face-to-face approaches may be more effective. In the case of prevention, it is much more difficult to reduce the incidence of eating disorders than to reduce of some eating disorders related characteristics in people.