Sanford Research Opens Two Eating Behavior Studies

We do this every day—several times a day—but for some people, eating is a much more difficult task.

Eating behavior is of significant interest to Sanford Research, a multidisciplinary biomedical research institute dedicated to advancing health care in the Midwest and beyond through scientific discovery.

At the Center for Biobehavioral Mechanisms of Eating Behavior (CBM-EB) in Fargo, North Dakota, Sanford researchers are working with colleagues at North Dakota State University and the University of North Dakota to identify factors that contribute to the development of serious eating disorders. and related conditions.

The problem eating behavior studied in CBM-EB is primarily seen in psychiatric disorders such as bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and compulsive overeating.

According to Stephen Vanderlich, Ph.D., CBM-EB Principal Investigator, this study is important in curbing the massive impact of eating disorders in the US.

“Eating disorders are a really big problem among teenagers and adults. These are some of the most common chronic diseases in adolescents,” he said. “They also do a lot of damage. For example, anorexia nervosa is the most deadly mental disorder in the world.”

Sponsored by CoBRE

CBM-EB is funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center of Excellence in Biomedical Research (CoBRE). These grants are awarded to create and develop innovative, state of the art biomedical and behavioral research centers in the United States.

“The grant is intended to help create a true center of excellence in a particular area,” said Dr. Wanderlich. “This has given us the opportunity to improve our research technology, attract talent, and expand our entire enterprise to become a larger and better center for eating disorder research.”

The CoBRE grant currently supports five human studies at CBM-EB. For research to be done, researchers need subjects who are interested in helping scientists and clinicians better understand the predictors of eating disorders, which in turn can lead to treatment ideas.

Of the five CoBRE-sponsored studies that are being conducted at CBM-EB in Fargo, two are currently accepting participants. These studies provide members of the public with a unique opportunity to contribute to scientific research and make a real difference in people’s lives.

The relationship between sleep and food

The first study, led by Leah Irish, Ph.D., is called the Prospective Study of Sleep, Eating and Weight Gain in Overweight Adults.

“This research project will contribute to broader work on how sleep affects weight and who may be particularly detrimental by this association,” said Dr. Irish. “This can help us identify individuals who are most likely to benefit from the intervention.”

For his study, Dr. Irish is looking for participants aged 18 to 45 who are overweight and overeat at least once a week. Over the course of six to eight months, participants will complete two screening assessments, six personal study visits, and three home sleep assessments. They will be compensated for their participation.

The brain connection with overeating

The second CoBRE study, led by Jeffrey Johnson, Ph.D., is titled “Neural Mechanisms of Disorder-Specific Stimulus Biased Attention in Bulimia Nervosa.”

“This study is important because it will expand our understanding of the cognitive and neural factors that can cause and maintain problem eating patterns,” Dr. Johnson said. “While this study does not aim to develop treatments for binge eating and related conditions, we hope that the knowledge gained from this study will contribute to improved treatments for these conditions in the future.”

For his study, Dr. Johnson is looking for participants aged 18 to 45 with a body mass index (BMI) of 18 or higher. Participants will complete three study visits, including one electroencephalographic (EEG) scan and one functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) scan, over one to two weeks.

A follow-up six-month visit will complete Johnson’s study and participants will be compensated for their time.

Both studies follow safe, widely used research methods that have been carefully reviewed and approved by the Sanford Institutes Review Board. All known risks and benefits will be communicated to participants prior to the start of the study, and participants may withdraw at any time for any reason.

Mutually beneficial research

All three researchers—Dr. Vanderlich, Dr. Irish, and Dr. Johnson—underlined that participants are doing a great service to the scientific and medical community and the public by registering. Dr. Irish added that many participants also benefit personally.

“In addition to the direct reward that participation in the study brings, many report a positive attitude toward participating in the study,” she said. “Maybe they find the experience meaningful or educational for themselves, or maybe they felt good about being involved in developing solutions that can help others live a better life.”

If you meet the criteria above and are interested in contributing to this innovative and important research, please complete the short survey and wait for a response from the CBM-EB researcher.

To learn more

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