Eating Anxiety Treatment (EAT) Laboratory
Welcome to the EAT Lab located at the University of Louisville, directed by Dr. Cheri A. Levinson, Ph.D.
About the EAT Lab:
The EAT Lab is dedicated to research on and treatment for eating disorders and anxiety
EAT Lab mission statement
The Eating Anxiety Treatment (EAT) Laboratory has a six-pronged mission, all of which center on improving the lives of those with eating disorders. Our mission is to (a) conduct cutting-edge research to develop novel treatments for eating disorders, (b) provide high-quality, evidence-based treatment for eating disorders (c) train the next generation of eating disorder researchers and clinicians, (d) distribute scientifically-based prevention programs across the community, (e) advocate for more awareness, better treatment, and services for eating disorders, and (f) work toward a future that alleviates barriers to accessing high-quality treatment, prevention, and research for underserved populations.
The Eating Anxiety Treatment (EAT) Laboratory has a six-pronged mission, all of which center on improving the lives of those with eating disorders. Our mission is to (a) conduct cutting-edge research to develop novel treatments for eating disorders, (b) provide high-quality, evidence-based treatment for eating disorders (c) train the next generation of eating disorder researchers and clinicians, (d) distribute scientifically-based prevention programs across the community, (e) advocate for more awareness, better treatment, and services for eating disorders, and (f) work toward a future that alleviates barriers to accessing high-quality treatment, prevention, and research for underserved populations.
Our research has several aims:
Novel Treatment Development for the Eating DisordersExposure therapy is the treatment of choice for anxiety disorders. At the EAT Lab we are working on ways to adapt exposure therapy for the treatment of eating disorders. We are also interested in adapting other empirically-based treatments for the anxiety disorders and extending them to the eating disorders.
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Personalizing Eating Disorder TreatmentTreatments for eating disorders only work for about 50% of individuals. Part of the reason that treatments fail is because of the high heterogeneity among eating disorders. Our work, using network analysis, is focused on identifying how symptoms of eating disorders differ within individuals and using this to inform personalized treatment.
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Eating Disorder & Anxiety Disorder ComorbidityMore than 70% of individuals with eating disorders also meet criteria for an anxiety disorder. Our lab studies why these two types of disorders co-occur so frequently. Our ultimate goal is to develop treatments and preventative interventions that address both disorders concurrently.
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Quality eating disorder treatment is not easily accessible in the United States
Learn more about our work with ProjectHEAL and barriers to quality eating disorder treatment access by clicking here: https://www.theprojectheal.org/reportedbarriers
EAT Lab in the news!
Dr. Levinson in the Sydney Morning Herald, Spring 2025
Tailoring Evidence-Based Treatment to the Person, Not the Diagnosis |
VR and eating disorders |
UofL researchers develop VR technology to combat eating disorders |
Taking eating disorders seriously.
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Kentucky must take action against weight discrimination.
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University of Louisville awarded $11.5 million for research to prevent and treat eating disorders |
Dr. Levinson and the Kentucky Eating Disorder Council call for changes to insurance to improve eating disorder treatment accessibility |
Kentucky lacks access to eating disorder treatment, but this professor is changing that. |
