A program using digital health tools and community health workers to help public housing residents manage their weight.

Digital Health Supported Weight Management Program Delivered by Community Health Workers Among Public Housing Residents

NIH-funded research Tufts Medical Center · NIH-11081387

This study is testing a weight management program for people living in public housing who are dealing with obesity and related health issues, using friendly support from community health workers and helpful text messages to promote healthier eating and more exercise, while comparing their progress to a group that isn't getting this support.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionTufts Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11081387 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates a weight management program designed for residents of public housing, focusing on those who face health disparities due to obesity and related chronic diseases. The program combines behavioral counseling from community health workers with mobile health text messaging to encourage healthier eating and increased physical activity. Participants will be compared to a control group receiving no intervention, with the goal of achieving significant weight loss and improved health behaviors over a 12-month period. The study also aims to understand how different personal and social factors influence the effectiveness of the intervention.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are overweight or obese individuals residing in public housing, particularly those from racial or ethnic minority groups.

Not a fit: Patients who are not overweight or obese, or those who do not reside in public housing, may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective weight management strategies that improve health outcomes for low-income populations living in public housing.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that community health worker interventions and mobile health technologies can be effective in promoting weight loss and healthier behaviors among similar populations.

Where this research is happening

Boston, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Conditions CancersChronic Disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.