Anxiety and body-sense as a warning for eating disorders in kids
Official title: Anxiety and Interoception Risk for Eating Disorders in Childhood
Funded at University of Louisville · NIH-11412713 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $710,075 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH129357-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412713 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents, including those with a wide age range from early childhood to late adolescence, who may be at risk for or developing eating disorders.
✕Less likely to help
There may be limited direct benefit for youths who do not show anxiety or interoceptive sensitivity differences related to eating behaviors.
What this research studies
This NIH grant studies young people to see if anxiety and how they notice bodily sensations are linked to developing eating problems. Researchers will follow participants over time, using kid-friendly assessments to track worry, body awareness, and eating behaviors. The goal is to identify early signs so families and clinicians can catch and address eating issues sooner. The study is led by Cheri Alicia Levinson at the University of Louisville and involves children and adolescents across a range of ages.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help clinicians recognize early warning signs and tailor prevention and early intervention for youth at risk of eating disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests anxiety and body-awareness factors are linked to eating issues, though this specific childhood-focused approach is developing.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Louisville
Louisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Levinson, Cheri Alicia — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: Levinson, Cheri Alicia
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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.