The Body Image, Weight, and Eating Laboratory (B-WEL)

Lab Members

Dr. Jean Forney: Lab Director/ Faculty Member

Naomi Hill, graduate student

Jenny Jo, graduate student

Gabriella Pucci: graduate student

Taylor Rezeppa, graduate student

Research Goals

  • Collectively, members of the Body Image, Weight, and Eating Laboratory use quantitative methods to study eating-related attitudes and experiences beyond the Skinny, White, Affluent Girl (SWAG) stereotype to inform eating disorder prevention & treatment.

Current Research Projects

“Taste, Psychological and Physiological Responses to Food Intake Associated with Disordered Eating”

  • Researchers at Ohio University are recruiting women with body image concerns who take measures to control their weight for a three part, in-person research study. Compensation is provided. To see if you are eligible, complete the screen at tinyurl.com/BWELscreensurvey. Ohio University IRB #21-F-14.

“Weight History and Thinking Styles”

  • This study is investigating how differences in weight history and problematic eating behaviors are associated with differences in attitudes, experiences, behaviors, and cognitive styles. We are recruiting from www.researchmatch.org. Consider joining the Research Match database!

“Relationships Between Exercise and Appetite in Women with Loss of Control Eating”

  • Researchers at Ohio University are recruiting women who exercise and have trouble controlling their eating for a four part research study. Compensation is provided. To see if you are eligible, complete the screen at tinyurl.com/exerstudy. Ohio University IRB-FY24-403.

Join the Lab

Undergraduate Students

We have many opportunities for undergraduate students to serve as research assistants and even lead their own projects. Research assistant tasks range from running study visits to preparing materials and data entry. If you are interested in becoming a B-WEL research assistant, please contact Dr. Jean Forney at forney@ohio.edu.

Graduate Applicants

Dr. Forney plans to admit a Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student for Fall 2025. See more information about the application process on the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. website. 

Strong applicants have a research interest in eating disorders and/or body image, have experience engaging in their own research (e.g., honors thesis, first author poster, independent project), have strong quantitative skills or an interest in learning quantitative skills, and are a good fit for the scientist-practitioner model of training. Graduate students are encouraged to develop their own line of research.

Please note that Dr. Forney does not meet with potential applicants prior to the application process in order to equitably review applications. Dr. Forney does not consider whether or not you contacted her in advance of applying when reviewing applications.