A mobile app to help teens manage eating habits and prevent weight gain
Official title: Designing a mobile intervention for dysregulated eating and weight gain prevention in adolescents
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11121832 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is creating a new mobile app to help teenagers who struggle with overeating and weight gain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $317,183 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK136540-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11121832 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents between 12 and 20 years old who are overweight or obese and experience dysregulated eating behaviors like loss of control eating or overeating.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not adolescents, do not experience overweight or obesity, or do not have dysregulated eating behaviors may not receive direct benefit from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
Many teenagers face challenges with overweight and obesity, and some experience 'loss of control' eating or overeating, which can make weight management difficult. While traditional therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help, they are often expensive, time-consuming, and not easily available to all teens. This project aims to develop a user-friendly smartphone app that builds on CBT principles, specifically designed to fit the unique needs and preferences of adolescents. The goal is to create a tool that teens can use easily to improve their eating behaviors and support healthy weight.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this mobile app could offer an accessible and effective way for adolescents to manage dysregulated eating and prevent further weight gain, potentially reducing the risk of conditions like adult-onset diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous digital interventions using similar cognitive-behavioral therapy approaches have shown promising effects on eating and weight in adolescents, but this project aims to improve their design and delivery for better engagement and outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goldschmidt, Andrea Beth — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Goldschmidt, Andrea Beth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Game-based mobile app to help pregnant women with overweight/obesity manage weight in Nepal
A new app designed for pregnant women in Nepal with overweight or obesity to help manage weight gain during pregnancy and reduce weight retention after birth.
-
How the brain’s support structure around certain neurons may affect appetite and weight in Alzheimer’s-related conditions
A new NIH grant explores whether a brain “support network” around specific neurons in a region linked to appetite could influence weight gain in people affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia.
-
Center-based childcare to curb excess weight gain in preschoolers from low-income families during summer
A summer program using center-based childcare to help preschoolers from low-income households gain and maintain healthier weights.
-
Game-based mobile app to help pregnant women with overweight/obesity in Nepal manage weight
A mobile app designed for pregnant women in Nepal who start pregnancy overweight or obese to help them manage weight gain and reduce postpartum weight retention.
-
Preventing weight gain in Air Force personnel with a new mobile health program
A mobile health program is being tested to help young Air Force members 18+ avoid gaining weight.
-
Preventing weight gain and blood sugar problems after kidney transplant
This project offers a diet and activity program for people who have had a kidney transplant to help prevent weight gain and problems with blood sugar.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.