Recruiting

Food Security

Sponsor:

Northwestern University

Code:

NCT07845461

Conditions

Binge Eating

Food Insecurity

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

FoodSteps

Weekly Stipend

Monthly Stipend

Study Details

Brief summary:

The purpose of this study is to conduct a randomized trial to assess whether different stipend distribution schedules and access to a mobile intervention can help reduce binge eating and improve food security status among adults experiencing food insecurity and recurrent binge eating.

Conditions

Binge Eating

Food Insecurity

Study ID

NCT07845461

Start date

Sep 14, 2026

Status verified date

Sep, 2026

Completion date

Dec 31, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec 31, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adult 18 years or older
  • English-speaking
  • Non-pregnant
  • Recurrent binge eating (≥12 episodes in the past 3 months)
  • Low or very low food security (score ≥2 on the 6-item 30-day Short Form Food Security Survey)
  • Willing to use a mobile application
  • Has a smartphone with Internet access and capacity for calls and text messaging
  • Has a valid email address
  • Willing to complete a W-9 form
  • Have an active U.S. bank account to which they can and are willing to receive electronic funds transfer

Exclusion Criteria:

  • BMI of less than 19.5
  • Diagnosis for which the study/intervention is not clinically indicated
  • Currently working with a clinical professional to receive services for weight management or binge eating
  • Started or recently changed (within past month) dosage for a medication for weight loss or binge eating

Study Design

Enrollment

120 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Factorial

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

active comparator: Monthly Stipend & No App

Participants will receive a monthly stipend for four months to aid with implementing health behavior changes.

experimental: Monthly Stipend & FoodSteps App

Participants will receive a monthly stipend for four months to aid with implementing health behavior changes, and access to the FoodSteps app.

experimental: Weekly Stipend & No App

Participants will receive a weekly stipend for four months to aid with implementing health behavior changes.

experimental: Weekly Stipend & FoodSteps App

Participants will receive a weekly stipend for four months to aid with implementing health behavior changes, and access to the FoodSteps app.

Interventions

FoodSteps

Participants will get access to the FoodSteps digital intervention for 16 weeks

Weekly Stipend

Participants will receive a weekly stipend for four months to aid with implementing health behavior changes.

Monthly Stipend

Participants will receive a monthly stipend for four months to aid with implementing health behavior changes.

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in binge eating [ Time Frame: 4 months ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Andrea Graham, PhD

312-503-5266andrea.graham@northwestern.edu

Locations

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Recruiting

Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611

Contacts

Andrea Graham, PhD

312-503-5266andrea.graham@northwestern.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Northwestern University

Last update posted

Sep 29, 2026

Last verified

Sep, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-30. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Northwestern University on 2026-09-29. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.