Improving Nutritional Support for Anorexia Nervosa
Official title: Multi-center Randomized Controlled Trial of Refeeding an Anorexia Nervosa
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11061401 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research compares different ways to provide nutrition to young people hospitalized for anorexia nervosa, aiming to help them recover faster and stay well.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | July 13, 2015 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $664,130 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD082166-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11061401 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents and young adults, aged 12-20, who are hospitalized for anorexia nervosa, including those with "atypical" anorexia nervosa.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not hospitalized for anorexia nervosa or who fall outside the 12-20 age range may not directly benefit from this specific refeeding approach.
What this research studies
Anorexia nervosa often requires hospitalization for nutritional rehabilitation, known as refeeding, but current methods can lead to long stays and frequent readmissions. Our previous work found that a higher-calorie refeeding approach helped patients achieve medical stability sooner without increased risks. This project builds on those findings, further exploring and refining refeeding strategies. We are particularly interested in understanding how these approaches work for patients with "atypical" anorexia nervosa, a growing group who may not appear underweight. The goal is to develop better ways to help young people overcome this serious eating disorder.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help young people with anorexia nervosa recover more quickly, reduce hospital readmissions, and improve long-term health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work and a parent trial (StRONG) have shown that a higher-calorie refeeding approach can lead to earlier medical stability and reduced hospital charges.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Garber, Andrea K — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Garber, Andrea K
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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.