A program to help maintain weight loss through digital health interventions
Official title: Stepped Care for Weight Loss Maintenance
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10920359 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to help people keep off the weight they've lost by offering personalized support through a digital program that tracks their weight, activity, and eating habits, starting with a group program for weight loss and then continuing with a year of tailored help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $417,884 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NR020197-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10920359 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults with obesity who have successfully lost more than 5% of their body weight.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not lost weight or those who do not have access to digital health tools may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new approach to help individuals maintain weight loss after an initial reduction. It involves a stepped-care digital health intervention that provides personalized support through remote monitoring of weight, physical activity, and calorie intake. Participants will first engage in a group intervention aimed at achieving a significant weight loss, followed by a year-long maintenance phase where they will receive tailored digital support. The goal is to create a more accessible and effective way to help people keep off the weight they have lost.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide patients with effective tools and strategies to maintain their weight loss long-term.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that digital health interventions can be effective in supporting weight loss maintenance, making this approach promising.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chao, Ariana Marie — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Chao, Ariana Marie
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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.