Investigating how anxiety and body awareness affect eating disorders in children

Anxiety and Interoception Risk for Eating Disorders in Childhood

NIH-funded research University of Louisville · NIH-10919757

This study is looking at how anxiety and awareness of body signals can affect eating habits in kids and teens, with the goal of finding early signs that might help prevent eating disorders.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Louisville NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Louisville, United States)
Project IDNIH-10919757 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding the relationship between anxiety, interoception (the awareness of internal body signals), and the development of eating disorders in children and adolescents. By examining how these factors contribute to problematic eating behaviors and cognitions, the study aims to identify early risk indicators for eating disorders. The approach involves assessing children's anxiety levels and their ability to recognize bodily sensations, which may help in predicting the onset of eating disorders. The findings could lead to improved early detection and intervention strategies for at-risk youth.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation are children and adolescents aged 0-20 who exhibit signs of anxiety or have difficulties with body awareness.

Not a fit: Patients who do not experience anxiety or have no issues with body awareness may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier identification and intervention for children at risk of developing eating disorders, potentially reducing their severity and improving long-term health outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has indicated that anxiety and interoceptive awareness are linked to eating disorders, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.

Where this research is happening

Louisville, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.