A cognitive- behavioral therapeutic program for patients with obesity and binge eating disorder: short- and long- term follow-up data of a prospective study.

Vanderlinden et al. (2012) ran weekly CBT for adults who had both obesity and binge-eating disorder. They tracked binges, weight, and mood for 3.5 years after the last session.

There was no control group. Everyone got the same manual-based therapy.

Binges dropped, BMI went down, and people felt less anxious and depressed. The gains stayed flat across the 3.5-year follow-up.

Because there was no comparison group, we can’t tell how much change came from the therapy itself.

Alfonsson et al. (2015) ran a true experiment with the same population. They swapped CBT for group behavioral activation and added a wait-list control. Mood improved, but binge episodes did not budge. The control group showed why: without a comparison, positive changes can look bigger than they are.

Pett et al. (2013) also worked with obese clients, but these were young adults with intellectual disability. A 12-week recreation program gave small, quick weight loss that faded by three months. The short-lived effect reminds us that long follow-ups like Johan’s 3.5 years are rare and valuable.

Rutter et al. (1987) warned that early CBT for bulimia gave good short-term results yet modest long-term abstinence. Johan’s sustained gains suggest later CBT manuals may have fixed some of those early leaks.

If you help adults who binge and carry extra weight, Johan’s data say CBT can keep working years later. Pair this hope with Sven’s warning: without a control, you can’t claim victory. Track baseline binge counts and run simple A-B designs for each client. Add booster sessions if binges inch back up.