We are currently conducting ONLINE research studies and could use your help! You can participate from anywhere in the United States!!
If you have or have ever had an eating disorder, please contact us to get involved in our paid research studies!! Most of our studies are online, so you can participate wherever you live (you do not have to live or be nearby Louisville).
Below are some of the ongoing studies you could participate in. For a full list, see our individual study pages from the drop-down menu above!
Diet Culture Intervention & Wellness Resource (Online)
We are currently recruiting for TWO single session interventions focused on two topics: Fighting Diet Culture and Health & Wellness! Participants will complete questionnaires, a single session intervention, and a 2-week follow-up. For completing the intervention and the 2-week follow up, participants get two entries to win a gift basket (valued at up to $150)! Please note: participants can only sign up for one session (either the diet culture or health & wellness) and cannot participant in both.
To learn more and sign up, click here
Predicting Recovery Study (Online Available)
The purpose of this study is to use mobile-app and sensor data in order to predict behaviors, relapse, and recovery for individuals with eating disorders. Participants will first complete a phone screening (approximately 60-90 minutes) to determine study eligibility. If they are deemed eligible, they will complete baseline questionnaires (approximately 45-60 minutes). Participants will then complete surveys on your smartphone four times a day (approximately 15-20 minutes each) for thirty days while wearing a sensor wristband which will be mailed to them. Upon completing the mobile application, participants will be asked to complete an end-of-application assessment (approximately 60 minutes). Participants will then be asked to complete follow up assessments 1 month and 6 month after completing the main portion of the study. Participants can be paid up to $150 for participating in this study.
To learn more and sign up, click here
Online Relapse Prevention Study (Online Available)
The purpose of this clinical trial is to compare two five-week online eating disorder relapse prevention treatments. Participants will first complete a phone screening (approximately 60-90 minutes) to determine study eligibility. If the participant is deemed eligible to continue participating in the main portion of the study, they will complete their first session which includes brief education about the online treatment. Participants will then complete baseline questionnaires (approximately 60-90 minutes). They will then complete an app-based behavior task that takes about 20-30 minutes. Upon completing the behavioral task, participants will complete the online relapse prevention treatment once per week (approximately 45-60 minutes) for 4 weeks. Following the final online session, participants will be asked to complete final questionnaires and the app-based behavior task. They will then be asked to complete follow up assessments 1-, 6-, 12-, and 18-months after completing the main portion of the study. Participants can be paid up to $200 for participating in this study. This National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) supported study will allow us to improve treatment outcomes, enhance full recovery, and decrease the likelihood of relapse.
To learn more and sign up, click here
Personalized Treatment and CBT-E Trial (Online)
The purpose of this clinical trial is to test a new type of personalized treatment against the current gold standard treatment for eating disorders, cognitive behavior therapy enhanced (CBT-E). This study could help us find better treatment for eating disorders, which is why your participation is so important to us! You will be asked to complete measures before, during, and after treatment, phone-based surveys, and 20 sessions of treatment.
To learn more and sign up, click here
Barriers to Treatment Access (BTA) Study (Online)
Project HEAL and the EAT Lab have partnered to quantify barriers to eating disorder treatment access through the implementation of an online survey study. Have you experienced a barrier to accessing quality eating disorder treatment and recovery? We invite you to consider participating in the BTA Study through the online survey.
To learn more and sign up, click here
The Body Project
The Body Project is a dissonance-based, body-acceptance intervention designed to help high school girls resist the pressures to conform to the "appearance ideal" and reduce their desires to change their body. Research on the Body Project shows that it improves body image and prevents the use of disordered eating behaviors among high school girls. Students meet in small groups of 6-10 for 1-hour once a week for 4 weeks with a trained Body Project facilitator while going through the program.
To learn more and sign up, click here
Clinical Screener Study (Online)
You can participate in this study from anywhere in the United States – it is all online. The purpose of this study is to assess participants with eating disorders for symptoms of eating disorders, anxiety, and related symptoms. Participants will be asked to do an initial interview over the phone and then complete a series of questionnaires online. Participants will be paid for completing follow-up questionnaires, and will be entered into a drawing for a $150 gift card for completing the initial questionnaires.
To learn more and sign up, click here
Virtual Reality Study
The purpose of this study is to investigate if virtual reality technology can be utilized to improve weight related fears and anxiety in individuals with eating disorders. Participants will be asked to do a screening interview, and two virtual reality therapy sessions while wearing a virtual reality headset and health-sensor band. During the virtual reality therapy, participants will be asked to wear a virtual reality headset and go through a guided mirror exposure in a virtual reality environment. Participants will receive free VR therapy sessions as part of this study, which is valued up to $500.
To learn more and sign up, click here
We are also looking for individuals who have never had an eating disorder to participate in research. Please contact us if you are interested in participating.
