Investigating how anxiety and body awareness affect eating disorders in children
Official title: Anxiety and Interoception Risk for Eating Disorders in Childhood
Funded at University of Louisville · NIH-10919757 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 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 | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $747,244 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH129357-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10919757 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are children and adolescents aged 0-20 who exhibit signs of anxiety or have difficulties with body awareness.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience anxiety or have no issues with body awareness may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
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.