Rohde P, et al. - The effect exerted by age on baseline eating disorder symptoms/risk factors and on the effects of completing three variants of an eating disorder prevention program was scrutinized in this trial. The findings recommended the implementation of group-based versions of the Body Project with young women up to the age of 20. The reason being the production of larger eating disorder symptom reductions. In contrast, the implementation ought to be carried out of the Internet version of the Body Project with women aged 25 or older, due to the superior weight loss/gain prevention effects.

Methods

• 680 women (60% White) were recruited.
• They were randomized to clinician-led Body Project groups, peer-led Body Project groups, an Internet-based version of the Body Project (eBodyProject), or educational video control condition.
• An analysis was performed of the subjects, who were on average 22.2 years old (SD = 7.1, range 17-64, median = 19), at pretest, posttest, and 6-month follow-up.

Results

• A marked correlation was nted in two of the seven baseline variables with age, indicating that older age was related to lower reported dieting (r = -.12) and better psychosocial functioning (r = -.13).
• Interactions indicated that age moderated the intervention effects, such that group-based programs were disclosed to be superior to the Internet-delivered version with regard to the eating disorder symptom reductions for women up to age 20.
• In contrast, the Internet-delivered program was superior to group-based interventions, particularly in terms of BMI reduction, for women over approximately age 25.
• Neither of the four tests ascertaining if age moderated the effects of delivering Body Project groups by mental health clinicians versus undergraduate peer educators appeared to be prominent.