Response of obese binge eaters to treatment by behavior therapy combined with very low calorie diet.

This study examined attrition and weight loss in 235 female obese binge eaters, episodic overeaters, and nonbingers treated by a 26-week program of behavior modification and very low calorie diet. No significant differences were observed among conditions in the number of Ss who completed treatment. Episodic overeaters, however, were more likely than Ss in the other 2 conditions to drop out during the last 7 weeks of treatment, when Ss resumed consumption of a conventional diet. End-of-treatment weight losses for the 3 conditions, which did not differ significantly, averaged 21.5, 19.4, and 21.7 kg, respectively. No significant differences were observed among conditions in weight regain (which averaged 8.8 kg) in the year following treatment, although small sample sizes prevented an adequate evaluation.