Understanding anxiety related to eating in people with anorexia nervosa
Official title: Longitudinal Assessment of Eating-related Anxiety in Anorexia Nervosa
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11020982 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how fear of eating affects people with anorexia nervosa and aims to help them feel less anxious about certain foods through a special therapy, while also using brain scans to understand how their minds work during this process.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $184,248 |
| NIH project number | 5K01MH127178-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11020982 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with anorexia nervosa who experience significant anxiety related to eating.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have anorexia nervosa or those who are not experiencing eating-related anxiety may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how anxiety about eating affects individuals with anorexia nervosa, a serious eating disorder characterized by extreme fear of weight gain and self-starvation. The study will explore how learned aversions to certain foods can be reduced through exposure therapy, and it will utilize advanced brain imaging techniques to identify the neural mechanisms involved in these anxiety responses. Additionally, machine learning will be employed to predict which patients are likely to respond to treatment based on their brain activity. The goal is to improve treatment strategies for those struggling with anorexia nervosa.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for anorexia nervosa by addressing the underlying anxiety that contributes to the disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using exposure therapy and neuroimaging to understand and treat anxiety disorders, suggesting that this approach may be effective for anorexia nervosa as well.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Kimberly — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Smith, Kimberly
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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.