Center-based childcare to curb excess weight gain in preschoolers from low-income families during summer
Official title: Efficacy of Center-based Childcare to Mitigate Unhealthy Weight Gain in Preschoolers from Low-income Households During the Summer
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11416685 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A summer program using center-based childcare to help preschoolers from low-income households gain and maintain healthier weights.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $627,740 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD116435-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416685 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Preschool-aged children (approximately 3–5 years old) from low-income households who would otherwise attend summer care.
✕Less likely to help
Children not in or seeking center-based summer childcare may not experience the proposed benefits.
What this research studies
This project targets preschool-age children from low-income families to prevent rapid weight gain during summer months. It will examine whether daily routines and healthy-behavior rules at center-based childcare reduce unhealthy weight gain compared with alternative care. The study will involve a real-world setting in publicly funded or needs-based childcare options and track weights, BMI percentile, and related health indicators over time. Families will be engaged to understand barriers to attendance and what supports are most helpful for sustaining healthy behaviors during the summer. The aim is to create practical approaches that centers and families can adopt to protect children’s health over the school break.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lower obesity risk for preschoolers in low-income families during summer and inform policy decisions about summertime childcare options.
How similar studies have gone: Prior evidence suggests weekday routines in center-based care are linked to healthier behaviors, but summer-specific strategies for this population are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Beets, Michael W — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Beets, Michael W
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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.