Addressing food insecurity to help prevent childhood obesity
Official title: Intervening in Food Insecurity to Reduce and Mitigate (InFoRM) Childhood Obesity
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11075379 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how not having enough healthy food can lead to weight problems in kids, and it aims to find ways to help families get better access to nutritious meals, especially in communities that need it most.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $194,940 |
| NIH project number | 5K23DK135822-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11075379 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include children aged 0-11 years, particularly those from Black, Hispanic, and lower-income families facing food insecurity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not children or those who do not experience food insecurity may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between food insecurity and childhood obesity, focusing on how limited access to healthy food affects children's health. The project aims to understand the impact of household food insecurity and neighborhood food environments on children's body weight and dietary habits. By developing and testing interventions, the research seeks to improve food and nutrition security for children and their families, particularly in communities that are disproportionately affected. The principal investigator, Dr. Allison Wu, brings expertise in pediatric nutrition and epidemiology to this important public health issue.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective strategies that reduce childhood obesity and improve nutrition among vulnerable populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in addressing food insecurity and its impact on health, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Allison Jane — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Wu, Allison Jane
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Food FARMacia: Helping Children in Food-Insecure Homes Maintain a Healthy Weight
This project is testing a mobile food pantry program called Food FARMacia to help young children in families facing food insecurity achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
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Understanding how where you live and personal factors during pregnancy affect a child’s risk for obesity and metabolic problems
This project looks at how neighborhood conditions and individual factors during pregnancy may influence a child’s risk of obesity and metabolic health as they grow.
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A hybrid mobile-family program to prevent obesity in preschoolers
A neighborhood-friendly program uses in-person meetings plus mobile phone support to help Latino families with 2- to 5-year-olds adopt healthier eating, less screen time, and more activity to prevent obesity.
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Adapting a proven kids’ lifestyle program to boost reach and impact
A study from Stanford aims to spread and improve a well-proven healthy-lifestyle program for children with obesity so more families can use it effectively.
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Strengthening obesity risk screening and referrals in early childhood
A 3-year study in New York aims to make it easier to find and connect families with social supports to prevent obesity from infancy into later childhood.
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Childhood obesity and cardiometabolic health in Latino youth from low-income families
This project follows Mexican American kids from birth through mid-adolescence to understand how weight and heart health develop over time.
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.