NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

A program to help pregnant women manage weight gain and prevent obesity.

Official title: Healthy for 2/Healthy for U: A Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial to Limit Gestational Weight Gain and Prevent Obesity in the Prenatal Care Setting

Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10809624 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing a friendly health coaching program for pregnant and new moms to help them manage their weight during and after pregnancy, using phone calls and online tools, to see if it works better than regular care in clinics that support different communities.

More Obesity research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionJohns Hopkins University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Baltimore, United States)
Project startMarch 10, 2020
Project endFebruary 28, 2026
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$658,376
NIH project number5R18DK122416-05
Project IDNIH-10809624 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant and postpartum women who are seeking support in managing their weight.

Less likely to help

Patients who are not pregnant or postpartum, or those who do not have access to the participating clinics may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates a health coaching program designed for pregnant and postpartum women to help them manage their weight during and after pregnancy. The program, called Healthy for Two / Healthy for You, utilizes remote coaching through phone calls, a web platform, and mobile tracking to promote healthy weight gain and loss. By integrating this intervention into prenatal care clinics that serve diverse populations, the study aims to compare its effectiveness against standard care. The research also examines how well the program can be implemented in these clinics and the factors that influence its success.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes for mothers and their children by reducing excessive weight gain during pregnancy and preventing obesity.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that similar health coaching interventions can be effective in promoting weight management and improving health outcomes in pregnant women.

Where this research is happening

  • Johns Hopkins University
    Baltimore, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Bennett, Wendy Lynet — Johns Hopkins University
  • Study coordinator: Bennett, Wendy Lynet

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.