Understanding how fear and gut feelings affect eating disorders
Official title: Fear, gastrointestinal distress, and interoception: Physiological and psychological mechanisms in eating disorders
Funded at Ohio University Athens · NIH-10358991 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how fear of food and gaining weight can cause stomach problems for people with eating disorders, and it wants to see how these fears affect how they feel after eating different types of food, so we can find better ways to help them stick to their treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio University Athens NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Athens, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $450,656 |
| NIH project number | 1R15MH128703-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10358991 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women in the normal weight range who are experiencing eating disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing eating disorders or who are outside the normal weight range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between fear, gastrointestinal distress, and eating disorders. It aims to understand how fear of food and weight gain can lead to physical symptoms like nausea and stomachaches, which make it hard for patients to follow treatment plans. By conducting tests where participants eat foods labeled as high or low in fat, the study will explore how these fears influence gut responses and feelings of fullness. The goal is to identify mechanisms that contribute to the maintenance of eating disorders and improve treatment adherence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for eating disorders by addressing the physical symptoms that hinder recovery.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific mechanisms being tested are novel, previous research has shown that addressing psychological factors can improve treatment outcomes in eating disorders.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio University Athens
Athens, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Forney, Katherine Jean — Ohio University Athens
- Study coordinator: Forney, Katherine Jean
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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.