Testing an Intervention for College Students With Food Insecurity and Binge Eating

This study is being conducted to test a new intervention. We are interested in whether it is easy to use and complete and whether you find it helpful in reducing concerns about your eating.

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Key information

Conditions

Binge Eating Bulimia Hyperphagia Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms, Digestive

Age range

18 year–30 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Early Phase 1

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

college student status, ages 18-30 years, current food insecurity, current binge eating, and interest in changing binge eating behaviors. Food security status will be determined by 2-item the Hunger Vital Sign screening, which demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity in identifying individuals with food insecurity; scores must report mild or greater food insecurity to participate. Binge eating and related impairment will be evaluated by the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale and the Clinical Impairment Assessment, and the binge eating items from the Eating Disorder Examination interview. Eating behaviors must be consistent with a DSM-5-TR binge spectrum eating disorder diagnosis, whereby an individual reports binge eating episodes at minimum one time per week for the current month and at least two times per month for the prior two months, to participate. Participants will be permitted to report other mild level symptoms of psychopathology due to the high comorbidity between anxiety, depression, and binge eating among individuals with food insecurity.

Exclusion criteria

Severe levels of anxiety and depression symptoms.

Treatment and study plan

novel binge eating intervention for college students experiencing food insecurity.

Behavioral

this intervention uses aspects of cognitive behavorial therapy for eating disorders combined with compassion-focused therapy techniques.

Primary outcomes

Self-Compassion Scale (SCS)

Time frame: 3 weeks

SCS is a 26-item survey that measures how an individual perceives themselves, and whether they respond with self-criticism or self-compassion in times of suffering, failure, and perceived inadequacy.
Experiences of Shame Scale (ESS)

Time frame: 3 weeks

The ESS is a 25-item survey that assesses an individual's perceived feelings of shame about themselves, their behaviors, and their body weight and shape; higher scores indicate greater feelings of shame.
Systems Usability Scale (SUS)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Measures usability of an intervention
Digital Behavioral Change Interventions (DBCI) Engagement Scale

Time frame: 3 weeks

Measures intervention engagement

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Building an Intervention for College Students With Food Insecurity and Binge Eating

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2027
Study completion: 2028
First posted: Apr 9, 2026
Registry last updated: Apr 9, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Not Yet Recruiting