Understanding Binge Eating and Obesity in Adolescents Facing Food Insecurity
Official title: Binge Eating as a Mechanism Underlying the Food Insecurity-Obesity Paradox in Adolescents
Funded at Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences · NIH-11175403 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to understand how binge eating might connect food insecurity with obesity in teenagers, helping us find better ways to support their health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | August 22, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $185,933 |
| NIH project number | 5R00HD108200-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11175403 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is focused on understanding the experiences of adolescents who face food insecurity and may also be struggling with obesity or binge eating.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing food insecurity or adolescent obesity may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
This research looks at why adolescents who experience food insecurity are more likely to also experience obesity, which can seem like a puzzle. Researchers believe that binge eating might be a key factor connecting these two issues. By understanding this connection, we hope to develop new strategies to prevent obesity in young people from families who struggle to afford enough food. This work is crucial for creating effective health programs for adolescents in under-resourced communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent obesity and support healthier eating habits for adolescents experiencing food insecurity.
How similar studies have gone: While the link between food insecurity and obesity is known, this specific focus on binge eating as a mechanism is a novel approach to understanding this complex issue.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hazzard, Vivienne M — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Hazzard, Vivienne M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Binge eating as a link between food insecurity and obesity in teens
A study in adolescents explores whether binge eating helps explain why food insecurity is linked to higher obesity risk, with the goal of guiding better prevention.
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Food FARMacia: Helping Children in Food-Insecure Homes Maintain a Healthy Weight
This project is testing a mobile food pantry program called Food FARMacia to help young children in families facing food insecurity achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
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Understanding how binge eating relates to obesity in food-insecure adolescents
This study is looking at how not having enough food can lead to obesity in teenagers, especially through binge eating, and it aims to find ways to help young people from low-income backgrounds eat healthier and maintain a healthy weight.
-
Addressing food insecurity to help prevent childhood obesity
This study looks at how not having enough healthy food can lead to weight problems in kids, and it aims to find ways to help families get better access to nutritious meals, especially in communities that need it most.
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Exploring how food insecurity affects weight gain during and after pregnancy
This study is looking at how not having enough food can affect weight gain during pregnancy and after having a baby, focusing on how feelings and social situations play a role in what women eat; it's designed for women who might be facing these challenges and aims to find better ways to support their health.
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How early life food insecurity affects child obesity and cognitive development
This study looks at how not having enough food during pregnancy and early childhood affects kids' growth and thinking skills, helping us understand the connection between food access and health from birth to age 18.
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.