Trial to Optimize Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention for Binge Eating & Weight-related Behaviors

December 11, 2025 updated by: Andrea Graham, Northwestern University

A Micro-Randomized Trial to Optimize Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention for Binge Eating & Weight-related Behaviors

The purpose of this study is to conduct a micro-randomized trial to learn which evidence-based targets within a mobile intervention for binge eating and weight-related behaviors are most impactful for which people and in what sequence.

Study Overview

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

300

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Illinois
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
        • Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults age 18 years or older
  • Obesity (BMI ≥30)
  • Recurrent binge eating (≥12 episodes in the past 3 months)
  • Interested in losing weight and reducing binge eating
  • Willing to use a mobile application
  • Has a smartphone with Internet access and capacity for calls and text messaging
  • Has a valid email address
  • Has access to a scale
  • Not pregnant
  • English-speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis for which the study/intervention is not clinically indicated
  • Not currently receiving clinical services for weight management or binge eating

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Increase healthy eating behaviors - Assigned
Individuals will be assigned to increase healthy eating behaviors that week.
Behavioral: FoodSteps behavioral intervention
Behavioral intervention that targets binge eating and weight-related behaviors. Each week, users are recommended or assigned one of five targets, set a relevant goal, and track their progress. If a target is recommended, the user can choose to select that target or a different target.
Experimental: Increase healthy eating behaviors - Recommended
Individuals will be recommend to increase healthy eating behaviors that week.
Behavioral: FoodSteps behavioral intervention
Behavioral intervention that targets binge eating and weight-related behaviors. Each week, users are recommended or assigned one of five targets, set a relevant goal, and track their progress. If a target is recommended, the user can choose to select that target or a different target.
Experimental: Increase physical activity - Assigned
Individuals will be assigned to increase physical activity that week.
Behavioral: FoodSteps behavioral intervention
Behavioral intervention that targets binge eating and weight-related behaviors. Each week, users are recommended or assigned one of five targets, set a relevant goal, and track their progress. If a target is recommended, the user can choose to select that target or a different target.
Experimental: Increase physical activity - Recommended
Individuals will be recommended to increase physical activity that week.
Behavioral: FoodSteps behavioral intervention
Behavioral intervention that targets binge eating and weight-related behaviors. Each week, users are recommended or assigned one of five targets, set a relevant goal, and track their progress. If a target is recommended, the user can choose to select that target or a different target.
Experimental: Limit unhealthy dieting behaviors - Assigned
Individuals will be assigned to limit unhealthy dieting behaviors that week.
Behavioral: FoodSteps behavioral intervention
Behavioral intervention that targets binge eating and weight-related behaviors. Each week, users are recommended or assigned one of five targets, set a relevant goal, and track their progress. If a target is recommended, the user can choose to select that target or a different target.
Experimental: Limit unhealthy dieting behaviors - Recommended
Individuals will be recommended to limit unhealthy dieting behaviors that week.
Behavioral: FoodSteps behavioral intervention
Behavioral intervention that targets binge eating and weight-related behaviors. Each week, users are recommended or assigned one of five targets, set a relevant goal, and track their progress. If a target is recommended, the user can choose to select that target or a different target.
Experimental: Improve self-image - Assigned
Individuals will be assigned to improve self-image that week.
Behavioral: FoodSteps behavioral intervention
Behavioral intervention that targets binge eating and weight-related behaviors. Each week, users are recommended or assigned one of five targets, set a relevant goal, and track their progress. If a target is recommended, the user can choose to select that target or a different target.
Experimental: Improve self-image - Recommended
Individuals will be recommended to improve self-image that week.
Behavioral: FoodSteps behavioral intervention
Behavioral intervention that targets binge eating and weight-related behaviors. Each week, users are recommended or assigned one of five targets, set a relevant goal, and track their progress. If a target is recommended, the user can choose to select that target or a different target.
Experimental: Improve mood - Assigned
Individuals will be assigned to improve mood that week.
Behavioral: FoodSteps behavioral intervention
Behavioral intervention that targets binge eating and weight-related behaviors. Each week, users are recommended or assigned one of five targets, set a relevant goal, and track their progress. If a target is recommended, the user can choose to select that target or a different target.
Experimental: Improve mood - Recommended
Individuals will be recommended to improve mood that week.
Behavioral: FoodSteps behavioral intervention
Behavioral intervention that targets binge eating and weight-related behaviors. Each week, users are recommended or assigned one of five targets, set a relevant goal, and track their progress. If a target is recommended, the user can choose to select that target or a different target.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Weekly change in binge eating
Time Frame: 1 week
Change in number of binge eating episodes
1 week

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Northwestern University

Collaborators

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 21, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 30, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 30, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

April 5, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

December 17, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 11, 2025

Last Verified

December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • STU00216998
  • R01DK133300 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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