Guided self-help to manage emotional eating in a non-obese woman: A case study

Eating behavior in women may be affected by several factors, such as their environment, body image, and mood, and a deterioration in healthy eating behaviors can lead to overeating, stress or emotional disorders, obesity, and other health concerns. This case study examined the results of a guided self-help program (GSHP) designed to address emotional eating behavior in a non-obese woman. The outcomes indicated that a 12-session GSHP reduced the patient’s emotional eating behavior. To our knowledge, this is the first such study. The results cannot be generalized to a wider population as they are applicable to only 1 case; therefore, additional research using GSHP with larger samples are needed. Nonetheless, the findings were encouraging and psychiatric nurses should consider implementing GSHP techniques to help regulate emotional eating behaviors.