Smartphone chatbot to prevent eating disorders in teens
Official title: Improving Access to Services, Preventing Eating Disorders, and Addressing Comorbid Depression and Anxiety in Diverse Adolescents
Run by Washington University School of Medicine · NCT07094503 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test a smartphone chatbot program to prevent eating disorders in 13–17-year-olds who are at risk and not currently in treatment.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 13 Years to 19 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 400 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Washington University School of Medicine Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (St Louis, Missouri) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 18, 2024 |
| Main results expected | July 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | July 30, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | July 15, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07094503 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are US-based, English-speaking adolescents aged 13–17 who own a smartphone, screen as at-risk for an eating disorder, and are not currently receiving treatment.
✕Probably not a fit
Teens who already have a clinical or subclinical eating disorder, are in treatment, lack a smartphone, live outside the US, or do not speak English are unlikely to benefit from this program.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The team will adapt an existing eating-disorder prevention chatbot for use with adolescents, emphasizing reach to diverse and underserved groups. Eligible participants are 13–17, US residents, English-speaking, own a smartphone, screen as at-risk for an eating disorder, and are not currently in treatment. Participants will use the Wysa digital chatbot program and researchers will collect measures of eating disorder symptoms and risk over the study period to see if symptoms decrease. Industry and non-profit partnerships are included to support scalability and potential real-world implementation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the chatbot could lower eating disorder symptoms and reduce the likelihood that at-risk teens develop a full eating disorder by providing scalable, accessible prevention.
How similar studies have gone: Previous digital and CBT-based prevention programs and some chatbot interventions have shown promise at reducing eating disorder risk, but adolescent-focused chatbot prevention is still relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria 1. 13 - 19 years old 2. Owns a smartphone 3. Speaks English 4. US resident 5. Screens as at-risk for an eating disorder 6. Not currently in treatment for an eating disorder Exclusion Criteria: 1. Below 13 or older than 19 years of age 2. Does not own a smartphone 3. Does not speak English 4. Lives outside the US 5. Screens as: 1. Having a subclinical or clinical ED 2. Not at risk for an ED 3. In treatment for an ED
Where it's running
-
Washington University in St. Louis
St Louis, Missouri, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Ellen Fitzsimmons-Craft, PhD — Washington University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Mireya De Los Reyes, B.S/B.A.
- Email: mireya@wustl.edu
- Phone: 314-935-5843
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.