FoodSteps

A significant subset of individuals with obesity have comorbid binge eating; yet, no behavioral treatment produces substantial improvements in both outcomes, and current treatment approaches cannot reach all people in need. We designed FoodSteps, a mobile intervention for obesity and binge eating that has potential for scale and more precisely matches this subgroup’s needs. We applied user-centered design methods to design the intervention to address the needs of its users. We are finishing a randomized trial testing the intervention and will soon start another trial to optimize FoodSteps into a highly personalized intervention.

Additionally, we are collaborating with different healthcare clinics to learn how FoodSteps could be implemented in real-world clinical practice. Taken together, this work aims to achieve the ultimate goal of establishing a scalable intervention that improves the precision of care for weight management and binge eating.

The PI is Andrea Graham, PhD.

Project Names

Testing Intervention Strategies for Addressing Obesity & Binge Eating
Designing a Mobile Obesity & Binge Eating Intervention for Implementation in Clinical Settings
A Micro-Randomized Trial to Optimize Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention for Binge Eating & Weight-related Behaviors
Evaluating a Digital Intervention for Binge Eating and Weight Management among Adults with Food Insecurity

Funding

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases grant, K01 DK116925
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases grant, R03 DK128531
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases grant, R01 DK133300

Publications

Graham AK, Wildes JE, Reddy M, Munson SA, Barr Taylor C, Mohr DC. User-centered design for technology-enabled services for eating disorders. Int J Eat Disord. 2019;52(10):1095-1107. doi: 10.1002/eat.23130. PMCID: PMC7265747.
Weinheimer EA, Chang A, Neubert SW, Wildes JE, Graham AK. Past, current, and future willingness to engage with treatment targets: Applying user-centered design to inform the design of a mobile behavioral intervention. Int J Eat Disord. 2020;53(4):611-617. doi: 10.1002/eat.23252. PMCID: PMC7271441.
Graham AK, Munson SA, Reddy M, Neubert SW, Green EA, Chang A, Spring B, Mohr DC, Wildes JE. Integrating user-centered design and behavioral science to design a mobile intervention for obesity and binge eating: Mixed methods analysis. JMIR Form Res. 2021;5(5):e23809. doi: 10.2196/23809. PMCID: PMC8145081.
Graham AK, Neubert SW, Chang A, Liu J, Fu E, Green EA, Kornfield R, Nicholas J. Applying user-centered design methods to understand users' day-to-day experiences can inform a mobile intervention for binge eating and weight management. Frontiers in Digital Health 2021; 3(42):e651749. doi: 10.3389/fdgth.2021.651749.
Venkatesh A, Chang A, Green EA, Randall T, Gallagher R, Wildes JE, Graham AK. Perceived facilitators and barriers to engaging with a digital intervention among those with food insecurity, binge eating, and obesity. Nutrients 2021; 13(7): 2458. doi:10.3390/nu13072458.
Liu J, Munson SA, Chang A, Voss C, Graham AK. Understanding self-monitoring to inform a mobile intervention for binge eating and weight management: A proof-of-concept randomized trial. Int J Eat Disord. 2022; Epub ahead of print. doi: 10.1002/eat.23700. PMID: 35277986.
Fu E, Neubert SW, Chang A, Smith JD, Graham AK. Characterizing behavior change techniques used in the self-management of binge eating and weight: Applying a user-centered design approach. Eat Behav. 2022; 44. doi: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2021.101591. PMCID: PMC8885842.