Binge eating disorder

This study tests whether adding smartphone-based self-monitoring and micro-interventions to standard behavioral therapy helps people with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder. Participants will use an app to track their eating and practice therapeutic skills, with some receiv…

This phase 2 trial tests whether tirzepatide, a drug used for diabetes and weight loss, can reduce binge-eating episodes and help with weight loss in adults with obesity and binge-eating disorder. About 105 participants will receive tirzepatide, a placebo, or the existing drug li…

This Phase 3 trial is testing whether solriamfetol, a drug already approved for sleep disorders, can reduce binge eating episodes in adults with binge eating disorder. About 450 participants will receive either solriamfetol or a placebo daily for 12 weeks. The main goal is to see…

This study tests three different intensities of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) against standard treatment to see which best reduces binge eating episodes in adults with binge eating disorder. Over 21 weeks, participants receive individual therapy sessions ranging from low to …

This early-stage study tests whether MDMA (the active ingredient in ecstasy) combined with talk therapy can help people with bulimia nervosa. Forty adults will be assigned to one of three groups: MDMA with general therapy, MDMA with bulimia-specific therapy, or standard treatment…

This study looks at whether adding GLP-1 weight-loss drugs to cognitive behavioral therapy helps adults with severe obesity and binge eating disorder. About 80 participants will either take a GLP-1 drug or not, while both groups attend therapy sessions. Researchers will track cha…

This study is testing whether two questionnaires (SCOFF-F and EDE-Q) can accurately detect eating disorders in pregnant women, separating them from normal pregnancy-related eating concerns. Researchers will compare answers from 50 pregnant women with and without diagnosed eating …

This study tests whether adding a mobile app and digital monitoring to standard group therapy can better prevent suicide risk in women with eating disorders. Researchers will compare two groups of 150 women aged 18-65 who have recently had suicidal thoughts or attempts. One group…

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet are studying a Swedish national program called National Highly Specialized Care (NHV) for adults with severe, treatment-resistant self-harm or eating disorders. About 250 patients and their significant others take part. The program typically p…

Researchers are studying a 16-session group programme that teaches Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills to people who struggle with emotional dysregulation. Participants attend weekly 2.5-hour sessions in small groups over about five to six months. The study includes adults…

Researchers at Northwestern University are testing whether a mobile program called FoodSteps, combined with weekly or monthly cash stipends, can reduce binge eating and improve food security. The trial enrolls 120 adults who have recurrent binge eating and low or very low food se…

This study tests two smartphone-based programs for adults with binge eating disorders. One program uses heart rate feedback and breathing exercises, while the other uses guided body scans to help people connect with internal sensations like hunger. The goal is to reduce binge eat…

This study tests whether a type of talk therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help people with type 1 diabetes who also have eating disorders. Participants will be randomly assigned to ACT, supportive diabetes counseling, or a waitlist. The goal is to see if …

This study tests whether adding a peer coach or parent coach to standard eating disorder therapy helps teens aged 12-18 recover faster. 70 participants will receive 12 weeks of therapy plus either a parent coach with patient education materials or patient coaching with parent edu…

This trial tests FlexED, a digital game-like intervention for young women aged 15–25 with eating disorders. Over seven 20-minute sessions on a mobile phone, users follow an avatar through a story and complete interactive exercises based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).…

This study tests a digital program called FlexED that uses games and exercises to help young women and girls (ages 15-25) who struggle with body image and eating disorder symptoms. Participants are randomly assigned to either the FlexED program or online education modules. The go…

This study tests whether a nasal spray containing oxytocin (a natural hormone) can help adults with binge-eating disorder eat less often in binges. About 60 adults will receive either the oxytocin spray or a placebo for 8 weeks. Researchers will track changes in binge frequency a…

This trial explores whether a non-invasive device that delivers mild electrical stimulation to the head can help reduce anxiety before meals in adults hospitalized for eating disorders. Participants will use the Alpha-Stim AID device for 20-minute sessions before breakfast, lunch…

This study tests whether adding dramatherapy—using role play, improvisation, and creative exercises—to a standard exercise program improves quality of life for adults with obesity and eating disorders. Participants are in medical or bariatric care and will be randomly assigned to…

This study tests a mobile app designed to help adults with eating disorders stay motivated and ready for treatment while they are on a waitlist. Participants will either use the app for four weeks or continue with standard waitlist care. The goal is to see if the app can prevent …

This study tests a brief online program called COR for adults who struggle with binge eating. The program includes eight weekly sessions that teach skills to manage emotions and reconnect with eating in a healthy way. Researchers want to see if people find the program helpful and…

This study tests a virtual reality (VR) headset that uses circadian reset technology to improve sleep and reduce binge eating in 40 adults with binge eating disorder. Participants use the headset for 10 minutes twice daily for one month. Researchers will compare changes in binge …

This study is testing an AI-powered chatbot called Exp-ED that guides teens and young adults through exposure therapy exercises to reduce anxiety about weight gain. Twenty participants in a partial hospitalization program for eating disorders will use the app for six weeks. Resea…

This study tests a 6-week virtual program called the Diabetes Body Project 2, designed to prevent eating disorders in women aged 18-40 with type 2 diabetes. The program includes weekly group sessions and home exercises to improve body image and reduce disordered eating. Researche…

This study tests a mobile app called BEST-U that helps university students reduce binge eating. About 74 students with binge-eating disorder or bulimia will use the app or a comparison therapy. The goal is to see if the app makes it easier for students to get effective help witho…

This study tests a mobile app called FoodTraining that trains people to resist food cues. About 113 adults with obesity, bulimia, or binge-eating disorder will use the app for 4 weeks alongside their usual treatment. Researchers will measure changes in emotional eating and uncont…

This study compares two types of talk therapy for teenagers with eating disorders: enhanced cognitive-behavior therapy and family-based treatment. About 200 adolescents will be randomly assigned to one of the two therapies. The goal is to see if cognitive-behavior therapy works a…

This study tests whether a 16-session digital program that combines mindfulness with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is acceptable and practical for adults with binge eating disorder. Forty participants will be randomly assigned to the combined program or a simpler self-monito…

This study tests a new way to treat eating disorders by personalizing therapy based on each person's most troubling symptoms. Researchers use smartphone surveys to map individual symptom patterns, then match participants to specific therapy modules. The goal is to see if this tai…

This study follows 1,500 children ages 8 to 17 over several years to learn how genes, sleep, mood, and environment affect eating behavior and overall health. Participants wear wrist monitors, answer smartphone surveys, and provide samples like blood and stool. The goal is to iden…

This study looks at how people with binge eating disorder record their episodes using two different diary formats: a traditional paper diary and an electronic diary on a smartphone. Researchers want to see if both formats collect the same information and which one people find eas…

This study is testing a smartphone app that uses brief surveys and phone sensor data to detect when someone with an eating disorder might be at higher risk for behaviors like binge eating, restricting food, or purging. The app then delivers short video lessons on coping skills. T…

This study aims to collect genetic data and detailed symptom histories from 20,000 people with or without eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating disorder, and ARFID. Participants complete questionnaires and provide a saliva sample for DNA analysis. The goal is to i…

This study looks at 100 adults with severe obesity to see if the type of weight-loss surgery—sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass—changes binge eating, depression, and anxiety differently. Participants fill out questionnaires before surgery and for 12 months after. The goal is to…

This study looks at how certain thinking patterns, called metacognitive beliefs, relate to eating disorders in teenagers. Researchers will compare 72 girls aged 12-17 who have an eating disorder with a similar group of girls without one. The goal is to understand if these thought…

This study tests whether combining a one-time session of brain stimulation (rTMS or electrical scalp stimulation) with emotion regulation training helps people with mood, anxiety, or related disorders better control their emotions. 240 participants will learn either cognitive res…

This pilot study aims to see how common Barrett's esophagus is in people with eating disorders who have been purging (vomiting or ruminating) for at least 5 years. Researchers will use a simple, non-endoscopic device called EsoGuard to collect cell samples from the esophagus. The…

This study aims to identify subgroups of people with diabetes who share similar patterns between their blood sugar levels and mental health. By using smartphone surveys and continuous glucose monitors, researchers will create 'digital twins'—virtual models that can predict how me…

This study looks at whether people with obesity who also have binge eating or food addiction experience tastes differently than those without these behaviors. Researchers will measure sweet and salty taste thresholds in 300 participants and compare groups. The goal is to understa…

This study takes gut bacteria from women with eating disorders (like anorexia or bulimia) and gives them to mice to see if the mice gain or lose weight differently. The goal is to understand if an unhealthy gut microbiome can influence body weight and eating behavior. It's a basi…