A program using digital health tools and community health workers to help public housing residents manage their weight.
Official title: Digital Health Supported Weight Management Program Delivered by Community Health Workers Among Public Housing Residents
Funded at Tufts Medical Center · NIH-11081387 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $95,577 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA238335-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11081387 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are overweight or obese individuals residing in public housing, particularly those from racial or ethnic minority groups.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not overweight or obese, or those who do not reside in public housing, may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Quintiliani, Lisa M. — Tufts Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Quintiliani, Lisa M.
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This study is looking at how using digital health tools along with help from community health workers can support people living in public housing in Boston to manage their weight and improve their health through better eating and more physical activity.
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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.