The Effects of a 12-Step Self-Help Group for Compulsive Eating on Measures of Food Addiction, Anxiety, Depression, and Self-Efficacy

We investigated a group of 60 women who participated in the Compulsive Eating Anonymous self-help group using the 12-step program to handle compulsive eating. Measures of food craving, anxiety, depression, and self-efficacy were taken for participants at the beginning of the program, after 1 year in the program, and after 5 years in the program. Results showed that measures of anxiety and depression were lower in participants at the end of the program compared with the beginning of the program. Measures of food addiction and self-efficacy were not lower in participants after 1 year and 5 years of the program compared with the beginning of the program.