Personalized mobile program to reduce binge eating and support weight management
A Micro-Randomized Trial to Optimize Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention for Binge Eating & Weight-related Behaviors
A phone-based program that sends tailored prompts to help adults who binge eat reduce episodes and manage their weight.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11134534 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would use a mobile program called FoodSteps that delivers short, personalized interventions aimed at binge eating and weight-related behaviors. Each week you pick one evidence-based target to work on and set a plan for how you'll practice it. The study repeatedly randomizes which prompts and sequences you receive so researchers can learn which messages and timing help different people the most. Your binge episodes, weight, and app engagement would be tracked over time to refine what the program sends.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with obesity who experience binge-eating episodes and are willing to use a mobile app and complete follow-up are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without binge-eating behaviors, those who cannot use a smartphone or lack reliable follow-up contact, or those needing immediate intensive in-person care may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce binge-eating episodes and provide scalable, personalized support for weight management delivered by your phone.
How similar studies have performed: Pilot work with FoodSteps showed good engagement and some improvements in binge eating and weight, but this trial uses a newer, more precise approach to tailor the program.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Graham, Andrea Kass — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Graham, Andrea Kass
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 below.