Trial Outcomes & Findings for Leveraging Social Media to Identify and Connect Teens With Eating Disorders to a Mobile Guided Self-Help Mobile Intervention (NCT NCT04636840)
NCT ID: NCT04636840
Last Updated: 2026-03-09
Results Overview
Eating disorder psychopathology was assessed using the self-report Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). The EDE-Q Global score was calculated as the mean of the Restraint, Eating Concern, Shape Concern, and Weight Concern subscales (items scored 0-6), with higher scores indicating greater severity of eating disorder symptoms.
COMPLETED
PHASE1
161 participants
Baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
2026-03-09
Participant Flow
Participants were recruited using 1) social media advertisements, 2) National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) online screen. Eligible individuals who completed online screens were sent a link to an online assent form and continued on to complete the baseline survey. 161 participants started their baseline survey, and 148 completed their baseline survey and were randomized into the trial.
A total of 161 participants started their baseline survey. 13 did not complete their baseline survey and were not enrolled or assigned to a trial arm.
Participant milestones
| Measure |
Experimental Group A- Mobile App With Social Networking Feature
Access to a coached Space From Body and Eating Concerns program on SilverCloud Health App with private social media group for social networking support.
|
Experimental Group B- Mobile App Only
Access to a coached Space From Body and Eating Concerns program on SilverCloud Health App.
|
Control Group
Access to a self-help version of Space From Body and Eating Concerns Program on SilverCloud Health App
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall Study
STARTED
|
51
|
48
|
49
|
|
Overall Study
Completed 6 Week Survey
|
39
|
37
|
39
|
|
Overall Study
Completed 3 Month Survey
|
37
|
36
|
41
|
|
Overall Study
Completed 6 Month Survey
|
36
|
37
|
38
|
|
Overall Study
COMPLETED
|
51
|
48
|
49
|
|
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Reasons for withdrawal
Withdrawal data not reported
Baseline Characteristics
All randomized participants were included in this baseline measure; the N shown in the row matches the overall sample size.
Baseline characteristics by cohort
| Measure |
Experimental Group A- Mobile App With Social Networking Feature
n=51 Participants
Access to a coached Space From Body and Eating Concerns program on SilverCloud Health App with private social media group for social networking support.
|
Experimental Group B- Mobile App Only
n=48 Participants
Access to a coached Space From Body and Eating Concerns program on SilverCloud Health App.
|
Control Group
n=49 Participants
Access to a self-help version of Space From Body and Eating Concerns Program on SilverCloud Health App
|
Total
n=148 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Age, Continuous
|
16.00 year
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.91 • n=68 Participants • All randomized participants were included in this baseline measure; the N shown in the row matches the overall sample size.
|
16.21 year
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.92 • n=69 Participants • All randomized participants were included in this baseline measure; the N shown in the row matches the overall sample size.
|
16.08 year
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.92 • n=137 Participants • All randomized participants were included in this baseline measure; the N shown in the row matches the overall sample size.
|
16.09 year
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.90 • n=565 Participants • All randomized participants were included in this baseline measure; the N shown in the row matches the overall sample size.
|
|
Sex/Gender, Customized
Sex assigned at birth · Female
|
48 Participants
n=68 Participants • Includes participants with non-missing responses to "assigned sex at birth." Participants who did not answer this item were excluded from the row counts; therefore, the total analyzed for this measure is smaller than the overall study N.
|
44 Participants
n=69 Participants • Includes participants with non-missing responses to "assigned sex at birth." Participants who did not answer this item were excluded from the row counts; therefore, the total analyzed for this measure is smaller than the overall study N.
|
43 Participants
n=137 Participants • Includes participants with non-missing responses to "assigned sex at birth." Participants who did not answer this item were excluded from the row counts; therefore, the total analyzed for this measure is smaller than the overall study N.
|
135 Participants
n=565 Participants • Includes participants with non-missing responses to "assigned sex at birth." Participants who did not answer this item were excluded from the row counts; therefore, the total analyzed for this measure is smaller than the overall study N.
|
|
Sex/Gender, Customized
Sex assigned at birth · Male
|
3 Participants
n=68 Participants • Includes participants with non-missing responses to "assigned sex at birth." Participants who did not answer this item were excluded from the row counts; therefore, the total analyzed for this measure is smaller than the overall study N.
|
4 Participants
n=69 Participants • Includes participants with non-missing responses to "assigned sex at birth." Participants who did not answer this item were excluded from the row counts; therefore, the total analyzed for this measure is smaller than the overall study N.
|
5 Participants
n=137 Participants • Includes participants with non-missing responses to "assigned sex at birth." Participants who did not answer this item were excluded from the row counts; therefore, the total analyzed for this measure is smaller than the overall study N.
|
12 Participants
n=565 Participants • Includes participants with non-missing responses to "assigned sex at birth." Participants who did not answer this item were excluded from the row counts; therefore, the total analyzed for this measure is smaller than the overall study N.
|
|
Sex/Gender, Customized
Sex assigned at birth · Intersex
|
0 Participants
n=68 Participants • Includes participants with non-missing responses to "assigned sex at birth." Participants who did not answer this item were excluded from the row counts; therefore, the total analyzed for this measure is smaller than the overall study N.
|
0 Participants
n=69 Participants • Includes participants with non-missing responses to "assigned sex at birth." Participants who did not answer this item were excluded from the row counts; therefore, the total analyzed for this measure is smaller than the overall study N.
|
1 Participants
n=137 Participants • Includes participants with non-missing responses to "assigned sex at birth." Participants who did not answer this item were excluded from the row counts; therefore, the total analyzed for this measure is smaller than the overall study N.
|
1 Participants
n=565 Participants • Includes participants with non-missing responses to "assigned sex at birth." Participants who did not answer this item were excluded from the row counts; therefore, the total analyzed for this measure is smaller than the overall study N.
|
|
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race and Ethnicity · Non-Hispanic White
|
24 Participants
n=68 Participants
|
25 Participants
n=69 Participants
|
20 Participants
n=137 Participants
|
69 Participants
n=565 Participants
|
|
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race and Ethnicity · Non-Hispanic Black
|
5 Participants
n=68 Participants
|
5 Participants
n=69 Participants
|
7 Participants
n=137 Participants
|
17 Participants
n=565 Participants
|
|
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race and Ethnicity · Hispanic
|
12 Participants
n=68 Participants
|
8 Participants
n=69 Participants
|
9 Participants
n=137 Participants
|
29 Participants
n=565 Participants
|
|
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race and Ethnicity · Other/Multiple races
|
10 Participants
n=68 Participants
|
10 Participants
n=69 Participants
|
13 Participants
n=137 Participants
|
33 Participants
n=565 Participants
|
|
BMI
|
29.86 Kg/M^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.95 • n=68 Participants
|
27.10 Kg/M^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.00 • n=69 Participants
|
26.40 Kg/M^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.42 • n=137 Participants
|
27.81 Kg/M^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.65 • n=565 Participants
|
PRIMARY outcome
Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 monthsPopulation: Analyses followed the intention-to-treat principle. The numbers analyzed represent all randomized participants in each arm, regardless of adherence to the assigned intervention.
Eating disorder psychopathology was assessed using the self-report Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). The EDE-Q Global score was calculated as the mean of the Restraint, Eating Concern, Shape Concern, and Weight Concern subscales (items scored 0-6), with higher scores indicating greater severity of eating disorder symptoms.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Experimental Group A- Mobile App With Social Networking Feature
n=51 Participants
Access to a coached Space From Body and Eating Concerns program on SilverCloud Health App with private social media group for social networking support.
|
Experimental Group B- Mobile App Only
n=48 Participants
Access to a coached Space From Body and Eating Concerns program on SilverCloud Health App.
|
Control Group
n=49 Participants
Access to a self-help version of Space From Body and Eating Concerns Program on SilverCloud Health App
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Eating Disorder Psychopathology
Baseline
|
3.75 EDE-Q Global score
Standard Deviation 1.11
|
3.93 EDE-Q Global score
Standard Deviation 1.07
|
3.71 EDE-Q Global score
Standard Deviation 1.17
|
|
Eating Disorder Psychopathology
6-Week follow-up
|
3.50 EDE-Q Global score
Standard Deviation 1.23
|
3.30 EDE-Q Global score
Standard Deviation 1.36
|
2.91 EDE-Q Global score
Standard Deviation 1.19
|
|
Eating Disorder Psychopathology
3-Month follow-up (end of intervention)
|
2.92 EDE-Q Global score
Standard Deviation 1.46
|
2.89 EDE-Q Global score
Standard Deviation 1.50
|
3.01 EDE-Q Global score
Standard Deviation 1.31
|
|
Eating Disorder Psychopathology
6-Month follow-up (3-Month post intervention)
|
2.54 EDE-Q Global score
Standard Deviation 1.61
|
2.57 EDE-Q Global score
Standard Deviation 1.50
|
2.78 EDE-Q Global score
Standard Deviation 1.22
|
SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 monthsPopulation: The numbers analyzed represent participants who provided outcome data at all required assessment time points (baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months). Participants missing one or more assessments were excluded; therefore, Ns may be smaller than the numbers assigned.
Health-related quality of life was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 4.0 Generic Core Scales. The total score ranges from 0 to 100 and is calculated as the mean of all answered items (i.e., sum of transformed item scores divided by the number of items answered), with higher scores indicating better quality of life (fewer problems).
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Experimental Group A- Mobile App With Social Networking Feature
n=51 Participants
Access to a coached Space From Body and Eating Concerns program on SilverCloud Health App with private social media group for social networking support.
|
Experimental Group B- Mobile App Only
n=48 Participants
Access to a coached Space From Body and Eating Concerns program on SilverCloud Health App.
|
Control Group
n=49 Participants
Access to a self-help version of Space From Body and Eating Concerns Program on SilverCloud Health App
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Quality of Life Scores
Baseline
|
50.63 A total score on a scale (0 to 100)
Standard Deviation 16.37
|
54.37 A total score on a scale (0 to 100)
Standard Deviation 15.37
|
52.65 A total score on a scale (0 to 100)
Standard Deviation 19.01
|
|
Quality of Life Scores
6-week
|
55.97 A total score on a scale (0 to 100)
Standard Deviation 15.53
|
53.29 A total score on a scale (0 to 100)
Standard Deviation 20.61
|
49.96 A total score on a scale (0 to 100)
Standard Deviation 14.95
|
|
Quality of Life Scores
3-month
|
58.32 A total score on a scale (0 to 100)
Standard Deviation 14.68
|
56.30 A total score on a scale (0 to 100)
Standard Deviation 18.88
|
53.51 A total score on a scale (0 to 100)
Standard Deviation 16.73
|
|
Quality of Life Scores
6-month
|
65.36 A total score on a scale (0 to 100)
Standard Deviation 20.08
|
61.47 A total score on a scale (0 to 100)
Standard Deviation 17.34
|
56.39 A total score on a scale (0 to 100)
Standard Deviation 16.81
|
SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: 3 monthsPopulation: We reported medians (interquartile ranges) of total time spent on the app among participants who logged in at least once during the study period.
Among participants who logged in at least once, the total time spent on the app was collected and measured in seconds.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Experimental Group A- Mobile App With Social Networking Feature
n=51 Participants
Access to a coached Space From Body and Eating Concerns program on SilverCloud Health App with private social media group for social networking support.
|
Experimental Group B- Mobile App Only
n=48 Participants
Access to a coached Space From Body and Eating Concerns program on SilverCloud Health App.
|
Control Group
n=49 Participants
Access to a self-help version of Space From Body and Eating Concerns Program on SilverCloud Health App
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total Time Spent on the App
|
3003 Second
Interval 1175.0 to 7971.0
|
2520.5 Second
Interval 358.0 to 8591.0
|
1490 Second
Interval 368.0 to 4186.0
|
OTHER_PRE_SPECIFIED outcome
Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 monthsParticipants' depression symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8). This questionnaire includes eight items with scores ranging from 0 to 24 (the ninth item assessing suicidal ideation was removed, consistent with other remote and digital health studies among teens). The total score ranges from 0 to 24, with a higher score indicating more severe depressive symptoms.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Experimental Group A- Mobile App With Social Networking Feature
n=51 Participants
Access to a coached Space From Body and Eating Concerns program on SilverCloud Health App with private social media group for social networking support.
|
Experimental Group B- Mobile App Only
n=48 Participants
Access to a coached Space From Body and Eating Concerns program on SilverCloud Health App.
|
Control Group
n=49 Participants
Access to a self-help version of Space From Body and Eating Concerns Program on SilverCloud Health App
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Depression Symptoms
Baseline
|
14.98 Scores range from 0 to 24
Standard Deviation 5.43
|
14.98 Scores range from 0 to 24
Standard Deviation 5.44
|
14.86 Scores range from 0 to 24
Standard Deviation 6.19
|
|
Depression Symptoms
6-week
|
13.08 Scores range from 0 to 24
Standard Deviation 5.54
|
14.51 Scores range from 0 to 24
Standard Deviation 6.50
|
13.21 Scores range from 0 to 24
Standard Deviation 5.78
|
|
Depression Symptoms
3-month
|
11.06 Scores range from 0 to 24
Standard Deviation 6.12
|
11.85 Scores range from 0 to 24
Standard Deviation 7.42
|
12.19 Scores range from 0 to 24
Standard Deviation 6.06
|
|
Depression Symptoms
6-month
|
9.65 Scores range from 0 to 24
Standard Deviation 6.71
|
10.32 Scores range from 0 to 24
Standard Deviation 6.12
|
10.68 Scores range from 0 to 24
Standard Deviation 6.01
|
OTHER_PRE_SPECIFIED outcome
Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 monthsPopulation: Analyses followed the intention-to-treat principle. The numbers analyzed represent all randomized participants in each arm, regardless of adherence to the assigned intervention.
Anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED; 41 items). Participants rated each item based on how true it was for the last 3 months (0 = not true/hardly ever true, 1 = somewhat true/sometimes true, 2 = very true/often true). The total score is the sum of all items (range 0-82). Higher scores indicate more severe anxiety symptoms.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Experimental Group A- Mobile App With Social Networking Feature
n=51 Participants
Access to a coached Space From Body and Eating Concerns program on SilverCloud Health App with private social media group for social networking support.
|
Experimental Group B- Mobile App Only
n=48 Participants
Access to a coached Space From Body and Eating Concerns program on SilverCloud Health App.
|
Control Group
n=49 Participants
Access to a self-help version of Space From Body and Eating Concerns Program on SilverCloud Health App
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Anxiety Symptoms
6-week
|
39.29 A total score on a scale (0 to 82)
Standard Deviation 11.73
|
45.21 A total score on a scale (0 to 82)
Standard Deviation 19.85
|
46.95 A total score on a scale (0 to 82)
Standard Deviation 17.55
|
|
Anxiety Symptoms
Baseline
|
47.60 A total score on a scale (0 to 82)
Standard Deviation 16.12
|
42.27 A total score on a scale (0 to 82)
Standard Deviation 12.00
|
45.33 A total score on a scale (0 to 82)
Standard Deviation 19.07
|
|
Anxiety Symptoms
3-month
|
36.86 A total score on a scale (0 to 82)
Standard Deviation 12.41
|
43.56 A total score on a scale (0 to 82)
Standard Deviation 18.18
|
43.92 A total score on a scale (0 to 82)
Standard Deviation 17.30
|
|
Anxiety Symptoms
6-month
|
34.30 A total score on a scale (0 to 82)
Standard Deviation 14.58
|
36.89 A total score on a scale (0 to 82)
Standard Deviation 19.35
|
42.97 A total score on a scale (0 to 82)
Standard Deviation 17.68
|
Adverse Events
Experimental Group A- Mobile App With Social Networking Feature
Experimental Group B- Mobile App Only
Control Group
Serious adverse events
Adverse event data not reported
Other adverse events
Adverse event data not reported
Additional Information
Patricia Cavazos-Rehg
Washington University School of Medicine
Results disclosure agreements
- Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
- Publication restrictions are in place