Study Page

Are you a teen living in a larger body and interested in learning a new way to manage stress and potentially lose weight?

If yes, then you may be eligible to participate in a new study that is looking at a smartphone- based intervention for weight loss in teens.

*No health insurance is required, and you will be compensated for your participation.

If you are interested, or possibly know someone who is, then please contact study staff at 310-740- 7402 and inquire about the UCLA Health Study. Or, you can complete this online form and someone will contact you.

About the study

This study is being conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles and is recruiting teens ages 14 through 21 and includes the following:

1Study participation includes two in-person interviews (one at the start and another three weeks later) at our research offices near the UCLA campus, located at 10911 Weyburn Ave., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90024-2886. Each interview will last about 45 minutes.

2We will ask you to use the smartphone app for three weeks.

The BrainWeighve app is a new approach to weight loss. It treats the underlying cause of overeating, which is using eating to "displace" situations you can’t face, yet can’t avoid, or you’re frustrated with, in other words "stress". Nervous energy builds up in the brain to do something about the situation and overflows to the feeding drive, producing urges to eat.

In your "Dread List" the app will help you identify situations you can’t face or are frustrated with and help you to create action plans to deal with each.

In "Rechanneling" you will learn ways to rechannel overflow brain energy from difficult life situations to healthy behaviors without using food.

If you do not have a smartphone or would prefer to not use your own phone, then the study will provide you with one for the three weeks.

3You will be paid $25 in gift cards for participation in each of the interviews. There is compensation for parking and ride sharing.

4If enrolled in the study, you could also potentially participate in a focus group with other teens to talk about your experience with the app; you would receive another $25 giftcard for taking part in the group.

Testimony from an early user

Through personal anecdotes and reflections, testimony provides valuable insights into the real-world applications and outcomes of a particular offering. These firsthand accounts carry weight and credibility, often resonating with others who are considering similar engagements.

If you think you might like to participate in this study or would like more information, please enter your information below. Please answer the following questionnaires as best you can. Your answers will be used only for research purposes and kept confidential. Remember, participation is completely voluntary, and you can change your mind at any time.