Feeding and Eating DisordersNCT05382702
Fear, Gastrointestinal Distress, and Interoception: Physiological and Psychological Mechanisms in Eating Disorders
A study testing Test meal description changed in people with Feeding and Eating Disorders, run by Ohio University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The proposed study tests fear, gut peptide response, and perceptions of fullness as causes of gastrointestinal distress and eating disorder maintenance. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Feeding and Eating Disorders
- What is being tested?
- Test meal description changed
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 133 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 22 Apr 2022to 20 Mar 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- female
- DSM-5 eating disorder
- score 16 or higher on the Clinical Impairment Assessment
- experience nausea or stomachache after eating at least "sometimes"
- 18 to 40 years old
- body mass index between 18.5 and 26.5 kg/m2
Who cannot join
- medical conditions affect appetite or weight
- Recent pregnancy or current breastfeeding
- Dairy, strawberry or honey food allergy
- Specific phobia, blood-injection-injury type
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
The proposed study tests fear, gut peptide response, and perceptions of fullness as causes of gastrointestinal distress and eating disorder maintenance.
- Conditions
- Feeding and Eating Disorders
- Being tested
- Test meal description changed
- Medical subject headings
- Feeding and Eating Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Test meal description changedOther
Using a within-subjects crossover design, on two separate mornings participants will eat yogurt described as 'high fat' and 'low fat.' In actuality, the meals will not differ.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| High Fat Yogurt - Low Fat Yogurt | Other | Participants will eat yogurt described as 'high fat' at Study Visit 2 and yogurt described as 'low fat' at Study Visit 3. Receives: Other: Test meal description changed |
| Low Fat Yogurt - High Fat Yogurt | Other | Participants will eat yogurt described as 'low fat' at Study Visit 2 and yogurt described as 'high fat' at Study Visit 3. Receives: Other: Test meal description changed |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Subjective Rating of Fear
Area under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) from the 10 minutes period prior to the meal until immediately after the meal will be used to characterize changes in Visual Analogue Scale ratings of momentary fear ranging from "Not at All (0)" to "Extreme (100)." AUCi was calculated as: (((Fear at -10 minutes)+ (Fear at 0 minutes))*10/2) + (((Fear at 0 Minutes)+(Fear at +10 minutes))*10/2) - (Fear at -10 minutes)*20. A more positive score indicates greater increases in fear over the pre to post meal period.
Measured: -10 minutes, 0 minutes (immediately after the intervention), and 10 minutes post-intervention
Difference in Average Skin Conductance
Skin conductance data will be collected in microsiemens using a Biopac Bionomadix EDA System during the period before and after the test meal. The difference in average microsiemens will be computed for each test meal using the following equation: (Average activity for the 10 minute meal period) - (average activity for the 10 minutes prior to the meal). A higher difference indicates increased physiological activation during the meal period relative to the pre-meal period.
Measured: -10 minutes, 0 minutes (immediately after the intervention), and 10 minutes post-intervention
Gastrointestinal Distress
Gastrointestinal distress will be the averaged visual analogue scale ratings of "Nausea" and "Stomach Ache" ranging from "Not At All (0)" to "Extreme (100)." Area under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) from the 10 minutes period prior to the meal until immediately after the meal will be used to characterize changes gastrointestinal distress. AUCi was calculated as: (((Gastrointestinal distress at -10 minutes)+ (Gastrointestinal distress at 0 minutes))*10/2) + (((Gastrointestinal distress at 0 Minutes)+(Gastrointestinal distress at +10 minutes))*10/2) - (Gastrointestinal distress at -10 minutes)*20. A more positive score indicates greater increases in gastrointestinal distress over the pre to post meal period.
Measured: -10 minutes, 0 minutes (immediately after the intervention), and 10 minutes post-intervention
Cholecystokinin Response
Blood was drawn repeatedly. Cholecystokinin (CCK) values in plasma were quantified in ng/mL using a commercially available enzyme immunoassay (Phoenix Pharmaceuticals EK-069-02). Area under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) was calculated from the time period immediately before the test meal to 90 minutes after the test meal. AUCi was calculated as: (((CCK at 0 Minutes)+( CCK at +10 minutes))*10/2) + (((CCK at 10 Minutes)+( CCK at +20 minutes))*10/2) + (((CCK at 20 Minutes)+( CCK at +30 minutes))*10/2) + (((CCK at 30 Minutes)+( CCK at +60 minutes))*30/2) + (((CCK at+ 60 Minutes)+( CCK at +90 minutes))*30/2) - (CCK at -10 minutes)*90. A more positive score indicates greater increases in CCK over the pre to post meal period.
Measured: 0 minutes (immediately after the intervention), 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes and 90 minutes post-intervention
Peptide YY Response
Blood was drawn repeatedly. Peptide YY (PYY) values in plasma were quantified in ng/mL using a commercially available enzyme immunoassay (Phoenix Pharmaceuticals EK-059-02). Area under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) was calculated from the time period immediately before the test meal to 90 minutes after the test meal. AUCi was calculated as: (((PYY at 0 Minutes)+( PYY at +10 minutes))*10/2) + (((PYY at 10 Minutes)+(PYY at +20 minutes))*10/2) + (((PYY at 20 Minutes)+( PYY at +30 minutes))*10/2) + (((PYY at 30 Minutes)+( PYY at +60 minutes))*30/2) + (((PYY at+ 60 Minutes)+( PYY at +90 minutes))*30/2) - (PYY at -10 minutes)*90. A more positive score indicates greater increases in PYY over the pre to post meal period.
Measured: 0 minutes (immediately after the intervention), 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes and 90 minutes post-intervention
Subjective Rating of Fullness
Fullness will be the averaged visual analogue scale ratings of "full" and "satiated(satisfied)" ranging from "Not At All (0)" to "Extreme (100)." Area under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) will be used to characterize changes in fullness from immediately before the test meal to 90 minutes after. AUCi was calculated as: (((Fullness at -10 minutes)+ (Fullness at 0 minutes))*10/2) + (((Fullness at 0 Minutes)+( Fullness at +10 minutes))*10/2) + (((Fullness at 10 Minutes)+( Fullness at +20 minutes))*10/2) + (((Fullness at 20 Minutes)+( Fullness at +30 minutes))*10/2) + (((Fullness at 30 Minutes)+( Fullness at +60 minutes))*30/2) + (((Fullness at 60 Minutes)+( Fullness at +90 minutes))*30/2) - (Fullness at -10 minutes)*100. A more positive score indicates greater increases in fullness over the pre to post meal period.
Measured: 0 minutes (immediately after the intervention), 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes and 90 minutes post-intervention
Urges to Restrict Food Intake
Visual analogue scales will assess momentary "urge to restrict" from "Not At All" (0) to "Extreme" (100). The 60 minute assessment will be used for the exploratory serial mediation model.
Measured: 60 minutes post-intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 May 2022
- Study start22 Apr 2022
- Primary completion20 Mar 2025
- Study completion20 Mar 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for Feeding and Eating DisordersStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 133 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ohio University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Katherine J Forney, PhD, Principal investigator, Ohio University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05382702
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 21-F-14
- Other IDs
- R15MH128703
- Status last verified
- Jan 2025
- First submitted
- 11 May 2022
- Last updated
- 15 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Data will be shared according to the NIMH Data Sharing Policy (NOT-MH-19-033), including being shared with the NIMH Data Archive.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Fear, Gastrointestinal Distress, and Interoception: Physiological and Psychological Mechanisms in Eating Disorders
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05382702
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 21-F-14
- Conditions
- Feeding and Eating Disorders
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 133 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ohio UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Study start
- 22 Apr 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 20 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 20 Mar 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 19 May 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 15 Apr 2026
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The proposed study tests fear, gut peptide response, and perceptions of fullness as causes of gastrointestinal distress and eating disorder maintenance.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| High Fat Yogurt - Low Fat Yogurt | Other | Other: Test meal description changedParticipants will eat yogurt described as 'high fat' at Study Visit 2 and yogurt described as 'low fat' at Study Visit 3. |
| Low Fat Yogurt - High Fat Yogurt | Other | Other: Test meal description changedParticipants will eat yogurt described as 'low fat' at Study Visit 2 and yogurt described as 'high fat' at Study Visit 3. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- female
- DSM-5 eating disorder
- score 16 or higher on the Clinical Impairment Assessment
- experience nausea or stomachache after eating at least "sometimes"
- 18 to 40 years old
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- medical conditions affect appetite or weight
- Recent pregnancy or current breastfeeding
- Dairy, strawberry or honey food allergy
- Specific phobia, blood-injection-injury type
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Test meal description changedUsing a within-subjects crossover design, on two separate mornings participants will eat yogurt described as 'high fat' and 'low fat.' In actuality, the meals will not differ. | Other | High Fat Yogurt - Low Fat Yogurt, Low Fat Yogurt - High Fat Yogurt |
Primary outcome
Subjective Rating of Fear
Time frame: -10 minutes, 0 minutes (immediately after the intervention), and 10 minutes post-intervention
Area under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) from the 10 minutes period prior to the meal until immediately after the meal will be used to characterize changes in Visual Analogue Scale ratings of momentary fear ranging from "Not at All (0)" to "Extreme (100)." AUCi was calculated as: (((Fear at -10 minutes)+ (Fear at 0 minutes))*10/2) + (((Fear at 0 Minutes)+(Fear at +10 minutes))*10/2) - (Fear at -10 minutes)*20. A more positive score indicates greater increases in fear over the pre to post meal period.
Difference in Average Skin Conductance
Time frame: -10 minutes, 0 minutes (immediately after the intervention), and 10 minutes post-intervention
Skin conductance data will be collected in microsiemens using a Biopac Bionomadix EDA System during the period before and after the test meal. The difference in average microsiemens will be computed for each test meal using the following equation: (Average activity for the 10 minute meal period) - (average activity for the 10 minutes prior to the meal). A higher difference indicates increased physiological activation during the meal period relative to the pre-meal period.
Gastrointestinal Distress
Time frame: -10 minutes, 0 minutes (immediately after the intervention), and 10 minutes post-intervention
Gastrointestinal distress will be the averaged visual analogue scale ratings of "Nausea" and "Stomach Ache" ranging from "Not At All (0)" to "Extreme (100)." Area under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) from the 10 minutes period prior to the meal until immediately after the meal will be used to characterize changes gastrointestinal distress. AUCi was calculated as: (((Gastrointestinal distress at -10 minutes)+ (Gastrointestinal distress at 0 minutes))*10/2) + (((Gastrointestinal distress at 0 Minutes)+(Gastrointestinal distress at +10 minutes))*10/2) - (Gastrointestinal distress at -10 minutes)*20. A more positive score indicates greater increases in gastrointestinal distress over the pre to post meal period.
Cholecystokinin Response
Time frame: 0 minutes (immediately after the intervention), 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes and 90 minutes post-intervention
Blood was drawn repeatedly. Cholecystokinin (CCK) values in plasma were quantified in ng/mL using a commercially available enzyme immunoassay (Phoenix Pharmaceuticals EK-069-02). Area under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) was calculated from the time period immediately before the test meal to 90 minutes after the test meal. AUCi was calculated as: (((CCK at 0 Minutes)+( CCK at +10 minutes))*10/2) + (((CCK at 10 Minutes)+( CCK at +20 minutes))*10/2) + (((CCK at 20 Minutes)+( CCK at +30 minutes))*10/2) + (((CCK at 30 Minutes)+( CCK at +60 minutes))*30/2) + (((CCK at+ 60 Minutes)+( CCK at +90 minutes))*30/2) - (CCK at -10 minutes)*90. A more positive score indicates greater increases in CCK over the pre to post meal period.
Peptide YY Response
Time frame: 0 minutes (immediately after the intervention), 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes and 90 minutes post-intervention
Blood was drawn repeatedly. Peptide YY (PYY) values in plasma were quantified in ng/mL using a commercially available enzyme immunoassay (Phoenix Pharmaceuticals EK-059-02). Area under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) was calculated from the time period immediately before the test meal to 90 minutes after the test meal. AUCi was calculated as: (((PYY at 0 Minutes)+( PYY at +10 minutes))*10/2) + (((PYY at 10 Minutes)+(PYY at +20 minutes))*10/2) + (((PYY at 20 Minutes)+( PYY at +30 minutes))*10/2) + (((PYY at 30 Minutes)+( PYY at +60 minutes))*30/2) + (((PYY at+ 60 Minutes)+( PYY at +90 minutes))*30/2) - (PYY at -10 minutes)*90. A more positive score indicates greater increases in PYY over the pre to post meal period.
Subjective Rating of Fullness
Time frame: 0 minutes (immediately after the intervention), 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes and 90 minutes post-intervention
Fullness will be the averaged visual analogue scale ratings of "full" and "satiated(satisfied)" ranging from "Not At All (0)" to "Extreme (100)." Area under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) will be used to characterize changes in fullness from immediately before the test meal to 90 minutes after. AUCi was calculated as: (((Fullness at -10 minutes)+ (Fullness at 0 minutes))*10/2) + (((Fullness at 0 Minutes)+( Fullness at +10 minutes))*10/2) + (((Fullness at 10 Minutes)+( Fullness at +20 minutes))*10/2) + (((Fullness at 20 Minutes)+( Fullness at +30 minutes))*10/2) + (((Fullness at 30 Minutes)+( Fullness at +60 minutes))*30/2) + (((Fullness at 60 Minutes)+( Fullness at +90 minutes))*30/2) - (Fullness at -10 minutes)*100. A more positive score indicates greater increases in fullness over the pre to post meal period.
Urges to Restrict Food Intake
Time frame: 60 minutes post-intervention
Visual analogue scales will assess momentary "urge to restrict" from "Not At All" (0) to "Extreme" (100). The 60 minute assessment will be used for the exploratory serial mediation model.
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Apr 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Data will be shared according to the NIMH Data Sharing Policy (NOT-MH-19-033), including being shared with the NIMH Data Archive.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Katherine J Forney, PhD principal investigator
Ohio University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Test meal description changed in people with Feeding and Eating Disorders, run by Ohio University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 15 Apr 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Subjective Rating of Fear (time frame: -10 minutes, 0 minutes (immediately after the intervention), and 10 minutes post-intervention). The study lists 7 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Apr 2026.