Center for the Advancement of Research on Eating Behaviors

05/06/2026

Finals stressing you out?📚
Noticing changes in how you’re eating?🍽️

If you’ve been struggling with eating lately, this could be a simple first step!

KU students can participate in our free, single-session app and get compensated.

Start with the quick 5-minute survey (link bio or scan QR code)

03/26/2025

We are looking for multipleundergraduate research assistants to join our team starting in the summer or fall 2025 semesters! This is a unique opportunity to work alongside researchers and gain valuable experience in clinical and behavioral health research alongside earning credit towards your degree!

In this position you would be working closely with lab project coordinators and directors to assist in ongoing research studies. You would be asked to enroll in 3 credit hours of PSYC 480 and commit 10 hours a week in lab with one of these hours being our mandatory in person Friday lab meeting from 9 - 10 AM.

Interested in applying? For more details, including the full position description, information about CARE's research studies, and application instructions, see here ⬇️
https://kusurvey.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_elcAQ25c0YoRhXw

03/22/2025

And that, folks, is why we prefer the Health At Every Size approach! Follow the amazing folks at ASDAH to learn more about HAES, or read more below! ⬇️
https://asdah.org/haes/

03/13/2025

One of our goals as a research center is dispel myths about who "can" or "can't" have an eating disorder when, in truth, an eating disorder can affect anyone. Our full team is working to develop assessment and screening tools for populations whose needs are not being met by existing measures, and we want to highlight some recent progress!

In partnership with Uzazi Village, CARE graduate student Mari Thomeczek is working to develop culturally sensitive tools to screen for eating concerns in pregnant and postpartum Black birthing individuals. Here's what she's learned so far—be sure to stay tuned for the next steps of her study!

02/26/2025

This week is , and it's a great time to check in on your and your loved ones' health and wellness needs.

This week, we'll be highlighting some of our initiatives as an eating disorders research center looking to improve the lives of those with eating disorders. Let's work together to break the stigma and share essential resources with our communities 💗

Speaking of essential resources, check out this page for a list of local and regional organizations for mental health support, food assistance, and more! 👇
https://care.ku.edu/resources

02/23/2025

“We were inspired to create BEST-U because we saw a high demand for eating disorder treatment but very few resources in our community. In many cases, KU students had to drive to Kansas City for treatment, but some didn’t have a car. It was also very cost-prohibitive because most area providers did not take insurance.” —CARE Director, Dr. Kelsie Forbush

Thank you to The University of Kansas news for this fantastic feature on our support our mobile health intervention for college students with eating concerns. We're also excited to partner with Watkins Health Services to train providers on this intervention as part of a new grant!

Learn more about this initiative ⬇️

Click for more on the 11-week BEST-U treatment

02/19/2025

🗓️📍 We are one day away from , our university's annual giving event to support !

From noon on February 20 to noon on February 21, we're asking for your help to further our mission as a eating disorders research center, and here's why: Eating disorders affect 13-15% of women and 3-5% of men at some point in their lives, and they are the second deadliest mental illness.

Despite these staggering statistics, funding for eating disorders research remains disturbingly low. Federal support for eating disorders research is approximately $0.73 per affected individual. In contrast, research for autism spectrum disorder was supported at a rate of $58.65 per individual affected and schizophrenia research at a rate of $86.97 per affected individual.

By making a gift to CARE, YOU can champion eating disorders research so WE can continue our drive to positively impact the lives of those struggling with an eating disorder.

Learn more about how to contribute to our work and be a proponent of research for social good! 🌟🔗 https://care.ku.edu/support-our-mission

02/18/2025

Eating disorders are the second deadliest mental illness, and our research center’s mission is to help realize a world without them. From noon on February 20 to noon on February 21, we're participating in a fundraiser called One Day One KU, and your support can help us work toward our mission!

If you are able to contribute, your gift will be used to train graduate students who help run our studies, and to develop innovative treatments for those who cannot otherwise afford care, including folks in rural areas. Our team has a proven and measurable track record of accomplishments in our research, including:

✅ Developing an assessment that is currently used throughout the Veterans Health Administration to assess for eating disorders in veterans
✅ Creating groundbreaking screening tools that better identify eating disorders in men
✅ Designing a brief mobile-health treatment that has led to recovery for college students in as little as 11 weeks

See here to contribute to our Center during One Day One KU: https://care.ku.edu/support-our-mission

02/15/2025

📣‼️ The Center for the Advancement of Research on Eating Behaviors (CARE) is seeking a dedicated Assistant Researcher to join our team! In this full-time position you will help coordinate clinical trials and contribute to impactful research in the field of eating disorders.

We are looking for someone with a background in research who is ready to support our funded studies, manage data, coordinate undergraduate RAs, conduct clinical interviews, and more. This is a unique opportunity to work alongside leading researchers and gain valuable experience in clinical and behavioral health research!

Applications will be reviewed starting February 19th.

For more details, including the full job description and application instructions, see here: https://employment.ku.edu/jobs/staff/assistant-researcher/29716br

11/11/2024

Happy Veteran’s Day! Here at the CARE Lab, we strive to improve mental health outcomes relating to eating behaviors in a variety of populations. Mental health issues such as eating disorders are highly prevalent in military personnel, and here’s what we are doing about it!