The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) announced today during a telenews conference the first round of grants awarded through its Health Games Research national program. More than $2 million in grants will enable 12 research teams to help strengthen the evidence base that supports the development and use of digital interactive games to improve players’ health behaviors and outcomes. Funded studies explore topics ranging from how motion-based games may help stroke patients progress faster in physical therapy to how people in substance abuse treatment can practice skills and behaviors in the virtual world of a game to prevent real-world relapses.

The 12 grantees, awarded up to $200,000 each, are leading one- to two-year studies of games that engage players - ranging in age from eight to 98 - in physical activity and/or games that motivate them to improve their self-care (e.g., healthy lifestyle choices, prevention behaviors, chronic disease self-management and/or adherence to medical treatment plans).

Hi, my name is Nadine and I am not a compulsive overeater. In fact, I don’t even think about food anymore. But for over 20 years food was the main focus of my life. Food was my savior, my comfort factor, my friend and worst enemy. Or so I thought.

Why do I want to write my story and share my personal details with the world? Because I have something important to say and I have learned that without speaking about healing binge eating disorder others who suffer from it might stay that way forever when they truly don’t need to.

My experience with eating disorders started with anorexia when I was 16 years old.