Eating and Weight Disorders Research Group (EWeR)

Department of Psychology

Eating and Weight Disorders Research Group (EWeR)

A smiling woman with a notepad. Photo.

Aims of the research group

The aim of this research group is to investigate and acquire new knowledge about the causes and consequences of eating- and weight disorders, to investigate the efficacy of existing therapeutic interventions and to develop new treatment methods for patients with these disorders. The research group has a neurobiological focus.

Collaboration

We collaborate with a number of researchers at other units within NTNU. In addition, we have close collaborations with the Eating Disorder Units at

Ongoing projects

  • Longitudinal changes in neuropsychological profiles in adults with eating disorders
  • The use of psychotropic drugs in patients with eating disorders
  • Transdiagnostic Cognitive Remediation Therapy for Patients with Eating Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Trial 
  • Activity and sleep patterns in eating disorders (Participate in the project? Read more)
  • Patients` experiences- and long-term outcome of involuntary treatment for severe eating disorders
  • Athletes` perception of the importance of body and healthy eating: a qualitative study 

Completed projects

  • The Experience of Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) for Patients with Eating Disorders- A Qualitative Study
  • The impact of childhood trauma on treatment outcome after inpatient treatment in adult eating disorder patients

Publications / Clinical manuals

Publications / Clinical manuals

Weider, S., Rø, Ø., Bjørnelv, S. & Danielsen, M. (2025) The impact of childhood sexual abuse and childhood traumatic events on outcome in adult inpatients with eating disorders. Journal of Eating Disorders. doi: 10.1186/s40337-025-01316-9 

Thorsrud, T., Thorsen, L., Hjemdal, O., Dahlgren, C. L., Micali, N. & Weider, S. (2025). Neuropsychological Profiles in Patients With Restrictive or Binge/Purge Subtype Eating Disorders: A Continuum Approach. European Eating Disorders Review. doi: 10.1002/erv.70019 

Thorsrud, T., Hjemdal, O., Thorsen, L., Micali, N., Dahlgren, C. L., & Weider, S. (2025). Transdiagnostic Cognitive Remediation Therapy for Patients with Eating Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients, 17(9), 1460. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091460

Weider S, Shott ME, Nguyen T, Swindle S, Pryor T, Sternheim LC, Frank GKW. Food Avoidance and Aversive Goal Value Computation in Anorexia Nervosa. Nutrients. 2024; 16(18):3115. Doi: 10.3390/nu16183115

Thorsrud, T., Bang, M. A., Dahlgren, C. L., Nordfjærn, T., & Weider, S. (2024). Cognitive remediation therapy for patients with eating disorders: a qualitative study. J Eat Disord, 12(1), 142. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-024-01101-0

Christoffersen; H., Skårderud, H. R., Vrabel, K & Weider, S. (2023). Self-compassion as a mechanism of change in patients with eating disorders and childhood trauma receiving CFT-E; a study of within-person processes. Nordic Psychology, doi: 10.1080/19012276.2023.2192396

Danielsen, M., Bjørnelv, S., Weider, S., Myklebust, T. Å., Lundh, H. & Rø, Ø. (2020) The outcome at follow-up after inpatient eating disorder treatment: a naturalistic study. Journal of Eating Disorders, 8, 67. doi: 10.1186/s40337-020-00349-6 

Hestad, K. A., Weider, S., Nilsen, K. B., Indredavik, M. S., & Sand, T. (2016). Increased frontal electro-encephalogram theta amplitude in patients with anorexia nervosa compared to healthy controls. Neuro-psychiatric Disease and Treatment, 12, 2419-2423. doi: 10.2147/ndt.s113586 

Weider, S., Indredavik, M. S., Lydersen, S., & Hestad, K. (2016). Central Coherence, Visuoconstruction and Visual Memory in Patients with Eating Disorders as Measured by Different Scoring Methods of the Rey Complex Figure Test. European Eating Disorders Review, 24(2), 106-113. doi: 10.1002/erv.2385 

Weider, S., Indredavik, M. S., Lydersen, S., & Hestad, K. (2015). Neuropsychological function in patients with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 48(4), 397-405. doi: 10.1002/eat.22283 

Weider, S., Indredavik, M. S., Lydersen, S., & Hestad, K. (2014). Intellectual function in patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. European Eating Disorders Review, 22(1), 15-24. doi: 10.1002/erv.2260

Members of research group

Members of research group

  • Odin Hjemdal, Professor, Department of Psychology, NTNU
  • Alexander Olsen, Professor, Department of Psychology, NTNU
  • Karoline Krane-Gartiser, Post. Doc., Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU
  • Øyvind Salvesen, Associate Professor, Department of Public Health and General Practice, NTNU
  • Tora Thorsrud, PHD Candidate, Department of Psychology, NTNU
  • Linda Thorsen, PHD Candidate, Department of Psychology, NTNU
  • Kristin Kragh, PhD candidate, Eating Disorder Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, Levanger Hospital
  • Kari Lund Olstø, PhD candidate, Eating Disorder Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, Levanger Hospital
  • Katrine Kveli Fjukstad, Associate Professor, Department of Mental Health, NTNU/  Department of Psychiatry, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, Levanger Hospital
     

Associate members

  • Tone Seim Fuglset, Postdoctor, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Møre and Romsdal Hospital Trust
  • Camilla Lindvall Dahlgren, Senior Researcher, Regional Department for Eating Disorders, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål HF; Associate Professor, Oslo New University College (ONH), Oslo, Norway

Research Assistants & Former Members

Master students, Department of Psychology, NTNU:

  • Ingvild Myklestad (2015)
  • June Hansen (2015)
  • Karin Ylva Larsen (2016)
  • Benedicte Smedby (2017)
  • Linn Heidi Jacobsen (2017)
  • Eveline Mathisen (2018)
  • Hanna Skårderud (2019)
  • Hedvig Christoffersen (2019)
  • Marit Normann Aspelund (2019)
  • Celine Kormeseth-Rødal (2020)
  • Mari Stranden (2020)
  • Marthe Schillinger (2020)
  • Ina Visser (2020)
  • Synne Marie Martinsen (2022)
  • Sindre Einarsve Rønning (2023)
  • Marit Bjerve (2023)
  • Guro Melting Brauteset (2025)
  • Amalie Bramming Moen (2025)

Research assistants, Department of Psychology, NTNU:

  • Guro Melting Brauteset
  • Amalie Bramming Moen

Former research assistants, Department of Psychology, NTNU:

  • Frida Langerud
  • Liva Rindom Tofte
  • Kristin Bergslid
  • Magnhild Eitrem Røkke
  • Sigri Olive Kjølen
  • Synne Martinsen
  • Hanna Lillehaug
  • Line O. Luckman
  • Ingrid M. Pettersen
  • Marit Normann Aspelund
  • Ingri Warnes Seth
  • Ragnhild Løkken
  • Kamilla Sanner
  • Lisa Sophie Myhren
  • Kitt Helene Hvidsten