Table 1 The Self-help, Integrated, and Gamified Mobile-phone Application explicit cognitive-behavioral intervention (SIGMAe) behavioral (B), cognitive (C), and cognitive-behavioral (CB) coping choices exemplified
Worst coping card alternative | Best coping card alternative | |
|---|---|---|
Emotional eating scenario: Ann just got separated from her boyfriend. She is sad and in order to help her feel better her friends booked a table at her favorite restaurant. Ann says to herself: | ||
B | I can hardly wait to go to the restaurant and eat all I can eat to feel better | I know that my favorite restaurant will be a tempting setting for me, especially in these circumstances. I suggest going to bowling |
C | It’s terrible what happened to me. There is no way out. My friends are right; we should go out and eat | It is unpleasant what happened to me; however, I can cope with this situation |
CB | It is unpleasant what happened to me; however, I can cope with this situation. In addition, there are plenty more things to do than eating my feelings, like go bowling | |
Binge-eating scenario: Eliza is approaching the fridge. She feels like she is going to lose control. Eliza says to herself: | ||
B | I can’t help myself. I will eat as much as I want | I will do my relaxation exercises and then I’ll read something |
C | It is not fair. Others can eat all they want. Why shouldn’t I? | It may not seem fair; however, eating until I can no longer eat is hardly a solution |
CB | It may not seem fair; however, eating until I can no longer eat is hardly a solution. Instead, I will do my relaxation exercises | |
Craving scenario: when watching TV, Daniel is always tempted to eat a bag of chips or chew something. He says: | ||
B | I’ll eat chips while watching TV | If I am going to watch TV, I might as well play with my dog |
C | I must eat something; I am not used to simply watching TV | No need to eat chips while I watch TV. I can do without |
CB | No need to eat chips while I watch TV. I can do without or if not I can play with my dog | |