Researchers tested a new program called NOURISH that teaches people how to eat regular meals throughout the day. The study looked at seven people with eating disorders who were struggling to eat enough food. After going through a 3-4 session program focused on regular eating habits, participants showed signs of improvement in how much they were eating and their anxiety around food. While the study was small and more research is needed, the results suggest this program could be a helpful tool for people working to recover from restrictive eating patterns.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a focused program teaching regular eating habits could help people with eating disorders who restrict how much they eat
  • Who participated: Seven people with eating disorders who were part of larger treatment studies lasting 13-20 weeks
  • Key finding: People who completed the regular eating program showed moderate improvements in both how much they ate and their anxiety about eating, though the improvements were not statistically significant due to the small group size
  • What it means for you: If you struggle with eating enough, a structured program focused on regular meal timing might help you gradually increase your food intake and feel less anxious about eating. However, this is early-stage research, so talk with your treatment team before making changes

The Research Details

Researchers looked at information from seven people who were receiving treatment for eating disorders. These people participated in a special 3-4 session module called NOURISH that focused specifically on teaching regular eating habits. The researchers collected detailed information about what participants ate and how they felt throughout their entire treatment using daily check-ins on their phones or devices (called ecological momentary assessment). They compared how much people were restricting their food intake before and after completing the NOURISH module.

The study combined data from two different eating disorder treatment trials to gather enough information. Participants were tracked for 13-20 weeks total, with the NOURISH module being just one part of their personalized treatment plan. The researchers used statistical methods to measure the size of changes in eating and anxiety, focusing on effect sizes rather than just whether changes were statistically significant.

Testing regular eating as its own focused program is important because most eating disorder treatments combine many different strategies at once, making it hard to know which parts actually help. By isolating regular eating as a standalone module, researchers can better understand if teaching people to eat at consistent times throughout the day is truly helpful. This approach also fits with modern treatment that’s personalized to each person’s specific needs rather than using a one-size-fits-all program.

This is a preliminary study with a very small group of only seven people, which is an important limitation. The researchers were honest about this and focused on effect sizes (the size of the improvement) rather than statistical significance. The study used real-world data collection methods (daily check-ins) which is stronger than relying on memory. However, because there was no control group to compare against, we can’t be completely sure the improvements came from the NOURISH program itself rather than other parts of treatment or natural recovery

What the Results Show

People in the study showed moderate improvements in restriction (how much they were limiting their food) with an effect size of 0.72, and similar improvements in restraint (anxiety and control around eating) with an effect size of 0.76. These effect sizes suggest meaningful changes, though the small group size means we can’t be completely confident these improvements would happen for everyone.

The improvements happened during just 3-4 sessions focused on regular eating, which is a relatively short intervention. This suggests that even a brief, focused program might help people start eating more regularly. The fact that improvements were seen in both restriction and restraint suggests the program may help both the physical act of eating more and the emotional anxiety around food.

The study tracked participants throughout their entire 13-20 week treatment period, which allowed researchers to see that improvements in regular eating happened specifically during the NOURISH module sessions. This timing suggests the module itself was connected to the improvements rather than changes happening randomly over time.

This is one of the first studies to test regular eating as a focused, standalone intervention. Most previous eating disorder research combined regular eating with many other strategies, so it was unclear how much regular eating alone contributed to recovery. This study fills that gap by isolating regular eating, though more research is needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

The biggest limitation is the very small sample size of only seven people, which makes it hard to know if results would apply to larger groups. The study had no control group (people not receiving the NOURISH module) to compare against, so we can’t be completely sure the improvements came from this specific program rather than other treatment components. The study was also preliminary in nature, meaning it’s meant to test whether an idea is worth studying more deeply rather than provide definitive answers. Additionally, we don’t know how long the improvements lasted after the program ended

The Bottom Line

If you’re struggling with restrictive eating, ask your treatment team about programs that focus on regular eating patterns. The NOURISH program shows promise, but this is early research. Regular eating should be part of a complete treatment plan supervised by professionals like therapists, doctors, or registered dietitians. Confidence level: Low to Moderate (based on small preliminary study)

This research is most relevant for people with eating disorders who restrict how much they eat, their treatment providers, and researchers studying eating disorder recovery. If you have an eating disorder, work with your treatment team rather than trying to implement these strategies alone. This research is not meant for people without eating disorders

Based on this small study, people showed improvements during just 3-4 sessions, but we don’t know how quickly changes happen or how long they last. Recovery from eating disorders is usually a longer process, so expect gradual progress over weeks and months rather than immediate changes

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track the number of eating occasions per day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks) and rate your anxiety about eating on a scale of 1-10 at each meal. Aim to gradually increase eating occasions to 3 meals plus 1-2 snacks daily
  • Set phone reminders for consistent meal and snack times each day. Use the app to log what you ate and how you felt, creating a pattern of regular eating that becomes automatic over time
  • Review your eating patterns weekly to see if you’re eating at more consistent times. Track changes in anxiety levels around meals. Share this data with your treatment team to adjust your plan as needed

This research is preliminary and based on a very small group of seven people. It should not be used as a substitute for professional eating disorder treatment. If you struggle with eating, restrictive behaviors, or have concerns about your nutrition, please consult with a qualified healthcare provider, registered dietitian, or mental health professional. Eating disorders are serious conditions that require personalized, professional treatment. Always work with your treatment team before making changes to your eating habits