Binge eating as a link between food insecurity and obesity in teens
Official title: Binge Eating as a Mechanism Underlying the Food Insecurity-Obesity Paradox in Adolescents
Funded at Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences · NIH-11361707 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in adolescents explores whether binge eating helps explain why food insecurity is linked to higher obesity risk, with the goal of guiding better prevention.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | August 22, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $243,168 |
| NIH project number | 5R00HD108200-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11361707 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents and young adults experiencing food insecurity who are at risk for or have obesity.
✕Less likely to help
Teens or young adults without food insecurity or obesity may be less directly affected by this research.
What this research studies
This project looks at teens and young adults who experience food insecurity to understand how binge eating might contribute to higher obesity rates. Researchers will use qualitative and mixed methods, along with advanced statistics, to explore potential mechanisms and how they could be targeted in prevention efforts. The work builds on prior training in intervention design and dissemination to create practical approaches for improving food security and healthy weights in at-risk youth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform targeted strategies to reduce obesity risk among food-insecure adolescents by addressing binge eating as a modifiable factor.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has linked food insecurity to obesity and suggested behavioral mechanisms, but causal pathways remain to be clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hazzard, Vivienne M — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Hazzard, Vivienne M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Food FARMacia: Helping Children in Food-Insecure Homes Maintain a Healthy Weight
This project is testing a mobile food pantry program called Food FARMacia to help young children in families facing food insecurity achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
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Understanding Binge Eating and Obesity in Adolescents Facing Food Insecurity
This project aims to understand how binge eating might connect food insecurity with obesity in teenagers, helping us find better ways to support their health.
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Understanding how binge eating relates to obesity in food-insecure adolescents
This study is looking at how not having enough food can lead to obesity in teenagers, especially through binge eating, and it aims to find ways to help young people from low-income backgrounds eat healthier and maintain a healthy weight.
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Addressing food insecurity to help prevent childhood obesity
This study looks at how not having enough healthy food can lead to weight problems in kids, and it aims to find ways to help families get better access to nutritious meals, especially in communities that need it most.
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Exploring how food insecurity affects weight gain during and after pregnancy
This study is looking at how not having enough food can affect weight gain during pregnancy and after having a baby, focusing on how feelings and social situations play a role in what women eat; it's designed for women who might be facing these challenges and aims to find better ways to support their health.
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How early life food insecurity affects child obesity and cognitive development
This study looks at how not having enough food during pregnancy and early childhood affects kids' growth and thinking skills, helping us understand the connection between food access and health from birth to age 18.
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.