Eating disorder

Researchers are testing a digital program called Centering Appetite in African American adults with type 2 diabetes and binge eating. The program includes web-based lessons to help people relearn their body's hunger and fullness signals, along with diabetes education and a Fitbit…

This study tests whether a gentle electrical current applied to a brain area involved in fullness can reduce food intake and promote weight loss. Over 4 weeks, 148 obese adults will receive either real or fake stimulation while following a reduced-calorie diet. The goal is to see…

This Phase 3 study tests the long-term safety and effectiveness of the drug solriamfetol in 300 adults with binge eating disorder. Participants take a daily pill (75, 150, or 300 mg) and are monitored for side effects and changes in binge eating. The study is open-label, meaning …

This study will test whether a therapeutic ketogenic diet (high fat, low carb) can safely help people with anorexia nervosa reduce their fear of weight gain and improve eating behaviors. About 120 people aged 16 to 45 in a partial hospital program will either follow the ketogenic…

This early study tests a brain implant that monitors and stimulates brain activity to reduce loss-of-control eating in people with severe obesity who haven't been helped by other treatments. Only 6 participants will receive the device, and the main goal is to check safety and see…

This trial investigates whether deep brain stimulation (DBS) — a surgical technique that uses implanted electrodes to regulate brain activity — can be a safe treatment for people with severe, long-lasting anorexia nervosa that has not responded to other therapies. The study will …

This study compares two ways of reintroducing food (refeeding) to hospitalized patients aged 12-24 with atypical anorexia nervosa. The goal is to see which method helps patients reach medical stability faster and with fewer side effects. Participants will be followed for one year…

This study tests whether a daily butyric acid supplement can help people with anorexia nervosa gain weight faster when added to standard treatment (nutritional therapy and counseling). Fifty women aged 18-65 will receive either butyric acid or a placebo for 3 months. Researchers …

This study tests whether delivering specially designed meals can improve nutrition in elderly, low-income patients with end-stage kidney disease who are on dialysis. Twenty-five participants will first eat their usual diet for 4 weeks, then receive personalized meals for another …

This pilot trial tests whether a group workshop called the Body Image Program (BIP) can help prevent eating disorders in female university students in Mexico. Thirty participants will attend two weekly sessions with exercises to challenge societal pressure to be thin. Researchers…

This study tests two behavioral programs—Appetite Awareness Training and the Diabetes Prevention Program—to see if they can reduce binge eating and prevent weight gain in Black women aged 18-25 who are at risk for type 2 diabetes. Participants will attend 16 core sessions over si…

This study tests whether a virtual version of the Body Project, a body acceptance program, can prevent eating disorders in 441 young women aged 16-25 who have body image concerns. Participants are randomly assigned to either the Body Project or an educational control group. The p…

This study tests a mobile app (CHAMP) that helps parents track their child's feeding progress at home, aiming to make tube weaning easier and faster. About 245 children aged 1 month to 5 years who are ready to stop tube feeding will participate. The app lets parents send feeding …

This study tests a multi-family therapy program for teens aged 11–18 with anorexia nervosa and their families. The therapy brings several families together to share support and learn skills for meal support and emotional regulation. Researchers will track weight, eating disorder …

This trial tests whether injecting botulinum toxin into the pylorus—the muscle at the stomach's exit—can help children aged 30 days to 18 years who struggle with chronic nausea, vomiting, or feeding intolerance. Participants receive the injection during an upper endoscopy, and re…

This study tests whether olanzapine, a drug often used for mental health conditions, works better than megestrol acetate (the usual treatment) for improving appetite and preventing weight loss in people with advanced cancer. About 227 adults with cancer-related loss of appetite w…

This study tests a new 20-session cognitive-behavioral therapy for adults aged 18 and older with anorexia nervosa. The goal is to help participants gain weight and reduce eating disorder thoughts and behaviors. Researchers will track changes in weight, anxiety, depression, and ea…

This early study tests a new therapy called PRIDE for sexual minority individuals (lesbian, gay, bisexual, etc.) who have an eating disorder. The therapy aims to reduce internalized stigma and improve coping with stress related to their identity. Thirty participants will attend u…

This study is testing a mobile app designed to help teenagers who struggle with binge eating and are overweight or at risk for obesity. The app uses strategies from cognitive-behavioral therapy to improve self-regulation and eating habits. Fifty teens will use the app for 16 week…

This study looks at whether mirtazapine, a drug often used for depression, can improve appetite in people with advanced cancer who have lost weight and have little desire to eat. About 98 patients will receive either mirtazapine or a placebo for 29 days. Researchers will track ch…

This Phase 2 trial tests a single intravenous dose of ketamine in 20 hospitalized teens and young adults with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia. Researchers want to see if ketamine helps the brain become more flexible, making it easier to learn new, positive associations with…

This study tests a therapy called RETELL that helps people with severe mental illness explore and reshape their life stories. The goal is to improve personal recovery, quality of life, and identity. Twenty adults with conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or PTSD will …

This study tests whether watching short video lessons instead of reading chapters can help adults with binge eating disorder stop binge eating. Eighty adults will either watch weekly videos or read text-based materials for 13 weeks, with brief online coaching sessions. The goal i…

This pilot study is testing a type of talk therapy called Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy (MIT-ED) for adults with various eating disorders, including those who are underweight. The therapy aims to help people understand and manage the negative thoughts and feelings that driv…

This pilot study tests a 10-week mindful eating self-help program for pregnant women who binge eat. Participants use a book and a smartphone app to learn mindful eating skills. The study aims to see if the program is feasible, acceptable, and helpful for reducing binge eating and…

This pilot study is testing a new type of exposure therapy for people with anorexia nervosa. The therapy helps patients face their fears about eating and weight gain through real-life and mental exercises. The study involves 30 participants and aims to see if the therapy is feasi…

This study tests whether a series of four short educational videos (each under 7 minutes) can help parents of adolescents with anorexia feel more confident and less stressed. About 50 parent-teen pairs will either receive standard care or standard care plus the videos. Researcher…

This study tests whether anamorelin, a drug that stimulates appetite, can help advanced lung cancer patients who have lost their appetite and weight. Researchers will interview 25 patients and compare those taking the drug to those taking a placebo. The goal is to see if the drug…

This study looks at whether adding a structured therapy journal to standard cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people with mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, or eating disorders feel better faster. About 80 adults in outpatient therapy will be randomly assig…

This small study tests whether a therapy called rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) can reduce food cravings in adults who binge eat. Eight participants will receive six treatments, and brain scans will check for changes in reward pathways. The goal is to understa…

This study looks at whether peer mentors can support youth aged 16-24 with eating disorders as they move from youth to adult treatment. Participants are paired with a mentor for 3-6 months. The goal is to see if this approach is practical and helps keep patients motivated.

This study tests a new program that combines mindful eating with motivational interviewing to help people with overweight reduce binge eating. One hundred participants will either receive the full program (counseling plus daily meditation) or just daily meditation. The main goal …

This study looks at whether unlicensed professionals can successfully provide cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to patients in a general hospital. It includes 250 adults with conditions like anxiety, depression, OCD, and PTSD. The goal is to see if this approach improves psychol…

This study tests whether a new treatment called Family-Based Treatment for Primary Care (FBT-PC) can help children and teens with restrictive eating disorders. Instead of seeing a specialist, families work with their regular primary care provider, with support from a mental healt…

This study tests whether a gentle brain stimulation technique called tDCS can improve mood, thinking, and eating habits in people with anorexia nervosa. Forty participants aged 10-30 will receive either real or sham stimulation twice daily for three weeks. The goal is to see if t…

This study tests whether a two-week online self-compassionate letter-writing exercise can reduce shame and guilt about weight and body image, and increase readiness for treatment in people with eating disorders. 160 adults with anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating disorder who are …

This early study tests whether a low-intensity focused ultrasound device can safely calm brain areas linked to food cravings in people with binge eating disorder. Fifteen adults with moderate to severe binge eating will receive a single session. The main goal is safety, but resea…

This study tests a type of therapy called cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) for women with eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating disorder. CRT aims to improve thinking skills such as flexibility, planning, and impulse control, which are often affected in thes…

This study tests a program called the Pregnant Body Project (PBP) for pregnant individuals who have had an eating disorder or disordered eating in the past. The program involves six weekly group sessions on Zoom to help challenge unhealthy body ideals. Researchers want to see if …

This pilot study tests a new self-guided program called RISE, designed to help people with eating disorders better sense and understand their body's internal signals, like hunger and fullness. The program includes four online modules with relaxation exercises, emotion management,…

This study tests whether a digital self-help app called Juniver can reduce symptoms of eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. 300 adults in the UK and US will use the app for 12 weeks and report their symptoms. The app includes therapy-based lessons, interacti…

This early-phase trial is testing whether cannabidiol (CBD) can safely reduce anxiety around mealtimes in people with anorexia nervosa. Forty participants will receive either CBD or a placebo for three weeks. Researchers will track side effects, blood levels of CBD, and changes i…

This study surveys 1,500 former Norwegian elite athletes to map their mental and physical health after retirement. Researchers focus on differences between weight-sensitive sports, such as weight-class, aesthetic, and endurance sports, and less weight-sensitive ones. They will ex…

This study will check how common joint hypermobility (being double-jointed) and pain are in 100 female patients aged 13-25 with anorexia nervosa. Researchers want to see if hypermobility might be a hidden cause of pain and whether jaw joint problems make eating harder. Participan…

This study looks at how parents of autistic young people (ages 12-18) with anorexia nervosa make sense of a group intervention designed for them. Researchers want to understand how parents interpret the concepts from the group and apply them to daily family life, and how they see…

This study uses stem cell technology to create brain cells from people with anorexia nervosa and compare them to cells from healthy individuals. The goal is to understand how specific brain cells, called hypothalamic neurons and microglia, function differently in anorexia. By pro…

This study uses brain scans to see how negative feelings change food choices and reward processing in people with binge eating disorders. Researchers will compare healthy individuals, those with obesity, and people with binge eating disorder or bulimia. The goal is to understand …

This study explores whether electroencephalography (EEG), a cheaper and more accessible brain monitoring technique, can reliably measure how the brain processes rewards in adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Researchers will compare EEG results with those from functional MRI (fMRI…

This study looks at whether adding aripiprazole to the antidepressant escitalopram can reduce pathological rumination—repetitive, intrusive negative thoughts—in people with major depressive disorder. 108 participants will receive either escitalopram alone or escitalopram plus ari…

This study follows 180 children with overweight or obesity to see how their thinking skills (like memory and self-control) relate to eating habits and weight changes over time. Researchers will use brain tasks and interviews to understand these links. The goal is to find better w…

This study looks at whether estrogen patches can improve mental flexibility and reward processing in young women (ages 14-35) with eating disorders linked to low estrogen. About 120 participants will receive either estrogen patches or placebo for 12 weeks. The goal is to understa…

This study gathers home videos, images, and daily logs from parents of 1,000 children with feeding difficulties. The goal is to help doctors monitor progress remotely and build a database for future research. Participants must already be using the CHAMP App in another study.

This study follows 250 patients who have recovered from an eating disorder. Nurses will call them once a year for three years to check on their health and see if they relapse. The goal is to learn what factors might increase the risk of relapse, such as age or exercise habits.

This study uses brain scans (fMRI) to compare how teenage girls with eating disorders and healthy teens react to pictures of food. Researchers want to find differences in brain activity and structure that might explain why some teens develop anorexia. The goal is to better unders…

This study explores whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can reduce compulsive behaviors in people with anorexia nervosa. Twenty participants will receive multiple sessions of rTMS targeting a brain region l…

This study compares posture and spinal mobility in 60 adult women with anorexia nervosa against healthy women of the same age. Using a special scanning tool, researchers measure how well the spine bends and extends. The goal is to understand physical changes linked to the disorde…

This study looks at how people with anorexia nervosa learn to associate positive feelings with sounds like baby laughter. Researchers will measure brain activity, heart rate, and pupil responses in 90 females aged 12-22. The goal is to understand if and how positive associations …

This study looks at 49 adults who had bariatric surgery at least 5 years ago and later regained weight or didn't lose enough. Researchers want to understand how disordered eating, emotional eating, and nutrition affect weight regain. The goal is to help create better follow-up ca…

This study looks at how anorexia nervosa changes brain function and metabolism in teenage girls. Researchers will use brain scans to compare 33 adolescents with and without the condition, then follow them for three years. The goal is to better understand the disease and find new …