A digital game to help prevent eating disorders
Official title: FlexED: A Digital, Gamified Early Intervention for Eating Disorders
Funded at Duke University · NIH-10704612 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a fun, game-like program to help young women who are starting to struggle with eating disorders, making it easier for them to feel better about their bodies and focus on what really matters in their lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $422,952 |
| NIH project number | 5R61MH127137-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10704612 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young women who are showing early signs of eating disorders or body image concerns.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with established eating disorders or those who do not engage with digital platforms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research develops a digital, gamified intervention aimed at early intervention for eating disorders, particularly targeting young women who show initial signs of these conditions. By utilizing a user-centered design and principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the program seeks to enhance body-image flexibility and engagement through interactive gaming elements. The goal is to provide an accessible and appealing tool for individuals at risk, helping them manage distressing thoughts and feelings about their bodies while pursuing meaningful life goals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a novel and engaging way for young individuals to prevent the onset of eating disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using digital interventions for mental health, but this gamified approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Merwin, Rhonda M — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Merwin, Rhonda M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Global brain imaging study to understand anorexia in teens and how it affects outcomes
A large international study using brain scans to learn why anorexia nervosa develops, how it affects teens, and what predicts recovery or relapse.
-
Anxiety and body-sense as a warning for eating disorders in kids
This project looks at whether anxiety and how kids sense their internal body signals can signal the kind of eating problems that lead to eating disorders in children and teens.
-
FlexED: a fun digital program to help teens with eating concerns
A teen-friendly digital program uses gamification and acceptance-based techniques to help 15-year-olds manage body image and related eating concerns earlier, before patterns become hard to change.
-
3-D bedside scanning to track malnutrition in anorexia nervosa
A bedside 3D optical scan method will help track malnutrition in adolescents with anorexia nervosa during hospitalization.
-
Reducing minority stress to help sexual minority adults with eating disorders
This project tests a new, identity-affirming treatment approach designed to help sexual minority adults with eating disorders by addressing stigma-related stress and coping skills.
-
Restrictive eating disorders and brain white matter development in youths
Researchers will study how restrictive eating disorders affect brain white matter development in young people using brain scans and related data.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.