Addressing childhood obesity in rural communities
Official title: Mountain West Prevention Research Center
Funded at University of Utah · NIH-10874101 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $1,000,000 |
| NIH project number | 1U48DP006789-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10874101 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are families with children living in low-income rural or micropolitan communities in the targeted states.
✕Less likely to help
Patients living in urban areas or those not facing economic challenges related to obesity may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Estabrooks, Paul — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Estabrooks, Paul
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.