Current Studies
Mindful Motivation Study
Funding entity: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Our goal is to determine whether a new program called Mindful Motivation (which combines mindfulness practices and motivational interviewing techniques) can help adults improve eating behaviors. We are interested in learning if participants are able to easily and effectively participate in this program.
Recruitment for this study closed in March 2026. We are collecting follow-up data until September 2026.
Stay tuned to learn about the results. Click here if you are curious about what our participants think!
Principal Investigator
Project Director
Isabella Fornell, MSc
Impact of a Mindful Eating Program on Graduate Student Eating Behaviors at UCSF
Funding entity: University of California, Office of the President
This study examines whether an eight-week mindful eating program can improve eating behaviors among graduate students at UCSF. As part of the study, continuous glucose levels are also monitored using a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) device to better understand how eating behaviors may relate to glucose responses and overall metabolic health.
Recruitment for this study closed in September 2025.
Principal Investigator
Project Director
Isabella Fornell, MSc
Multi-Level Trial of a Workplace Sales Ban of Sugary Beverages and Brief Motivational Counseling Intervention on Adiposity
Funding entity: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of workplace-based intervention strategies, including a behavioral intervention (BI) and sales ban policies, on improving health-related behaviors and outcomes among healthcare employees across Sutter Health hospital campuses.
Preliminary analyses focus on 314 participants assigned to the two study arms that received the behavioral intervention.
Stay tuned to learn about the results!
Principal Investigators
Elissa Epel, PhD, Laura Schmidt, PhD, MSW, MPH and Jamey Schmidt, RD
Co-Investigator
Dr. Radin refined and operationalized the brief intervention used in the study. She also led training, intervention fidelity, and implementation procedures throughout the trial to ensure consistency and quality. See below pre-print for a description of the intervention and preliminary results.
Completed Studies
UCSF Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC) Pilot Feasibility Grant
Continuous Glucose Monitoring, Binge Eating, and Metabolic Profiling: A Feasibility Study
Funding entity: National Institute of Health
The UCSF Nutrition Obesity Research Center (UCSF-NORC) supports research focused on obesity, nutrition, and metabolism at UCSF and across Northern California. The center provides resources, research support, and collaborative opportunities to investigators through specialized research cores, educational programming, and pilot funding opportunities. A major goal of UCSF-NORC is to advance innovative research and support early-stage investigators developing new projects in nutrition and metabolic health.
The goal of this project was to determine the feasibility and acceptability of utilizing continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology among adults with overweight, both with and without binge eating disorder (Aim 1); and to characterize glycemic signatures among those with vs. without BED on both non-binge and binge days (Aim 2).
Principal Investigator
Co-Investigator
The Impact of 8 Weeks of Digital Meditation Application and Healthy Eating Program on Work Stress and Health Outcomes
Funding entity: University of California, Office of the President
The aim of this study is to test the effects of a digital meditation intervention in a sample UCSF employees who report mild to moderate stress. We will randomize UCSF employees to either 8-weeks of a digital meditation intervention (using the commercially available application Headspace) or a waitlist control condition.
Principal Investigators
Elissa Epel, PhD, Aric Prather, PhD
Co-Investigator
Publications:
Digital Meditation to Target Employee Stress
Stress Eating, Stress Reactivity, and Metabolic Health: The Effects of a Tailored Mindfulness Intervention
Funding entity: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
This research project examines how stress, stress eating, and biological stress responses contribute to obesity and metabolic disease. Using data from the SHINE clinical trial, the study evaluates whether mindfulness-based approaches added to diet and exercise programs can improve weight loss and reduce stress-related eating behaviors. The project also explores how cortisol and stress reactivity influence treatment outcomes, with the goal of identifying who may benefit most from mindfulness interventions. Ultimately, this work aims to advance more personalized and effective strategies for obesity treatment and long-term metabolic health.
Principal Investigator
Sponsors
Elissa Epel, PhD, Frederick Hecht, MD
Publications
Do Stress Eating or Compulsive Eating Influence Metabolic Health in a Mindful Eating Intervention?