Addressing childhood obesity in rural communities

Mountain West Prevention Research Center

NIH-funded research University of Utah · NIH-10874101

This study is working to help families in rural areas of the Mountain West, like Idaho and Montana, who are struggling with childhood obesity by creating easy-to-use online resources and programs that make it simpler for them to get involved in healthy weight initiatives.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Utah NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Salt Lake City, United States)
Project IDNIH-10874101 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

The Mountain West Prevention Research Center aims to tackle the rising rates of childhood obesity in low-income rural and micropolitan areas across Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. This research focuses on overcoming barriers to implementing effective family healthy weight programs in these communities, which often face challenges such as poverty and limited access to healthcare. By developing online training resources and collaborative programs, the center seeks to improve the identification, enrollment, and retention of families in these vital health initiatives. The ultimate goal is to reduce income-related disparities in childhood obesity through targeted interventions.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation are families with children living in low-income rural or micropolitan communities in the targeted states.

Not a fit: Patients living in urban areas or those not facing economic challenges related to obesity may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce childhood obesity rates and improve health outcomes for families in underserved rural areas.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in implementing community-based interventions for childhood obesity, indicating that this approach has potential for positive outcomes.

Where this research is happening

Salt Lake City, 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.
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.