FlexED: a fun digital program to help teens with eating concerns
Official title: FlexED: A Digital, Gamified Early Intervention for Eating Disorders
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11411142 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $386,658 |
| NIH project number | 5R33MH127137-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411142 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents around age 15 with early signs of body-image distress or eating-disorder risk who have access to digital devices.
✕Less likely to help
Teens without access to digital devices or with advanced, established eating disorders may not benefit from this early-intervention format.
What this research studies
This project builds a digital, gamified intervention designed for adolescents with emerging eating-disorder symptoms to improve body-image flexibility and engagement in healthier behaviors. It uses user-centered design and ACT-inspired strategies to make early intervention more appealing and accessible. The team at Duke University will test a proof-of-concept app with young participants, focusing on engagement, usability, and potential impact on distress around body image.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could provide a scalable, engaging first step for teens to manage body image concerns and reduce progression toward full-blown eating disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous digital interventions for eating behavior have shown promise when using engaging design and ACT-based approaches, but gamified, body-image-focused methods are still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Merwin, Rhonda M — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Merwin, Rhonda M
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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.