Childhood Obesity Prevention Center
Official title: Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention
Funded at Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst · NIH-11193873 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This center works to develop and test ways to prevent and reduce obesity in children and teens, especially in Arkansas.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2016 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,887,321 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM109096-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193873 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and teenagers in Arkansas who are overweight or at risk for obesity—and their families—are the most likely candidates to participate in related programs and pilot studies.
✕Less likely to help
Adults and children without weight concerns or those seeking care for unrelated conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from the center's obesity-focused activities.
What this research studies
This center brings together doctors, researchers, and community partners to study why children gain excess weight and to try programs that help families stay healthy. You and your child might be invited to take part in surveys, health checks, school- or clinic-based programs, or small pilot studies of new approaches. The team combines community outreach, epidemiology, behavioral support, and clinical research to design solutions that fit local families. Results are intended to move quickly from research into practical programs in homes, schools, and clinics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the center could produce new programs and tools that help children avoid obesity and related health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous family- and school-based obesity programs have shown modest improvements in some groups, but locally tailored, multi-disciplinary approaches like this aim to improve those results.
Where this research is happening
-
Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Borsheim, Elisabet — Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Borsheim, Elisabet
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Preventing obesity in young Hispanic children through family education
This study is all about helping Hispanic families with young children by creating a fun, bilingual social media program that gives pregnant women and moms tips on healthy eating, breastfeeding, and good sleep habits to prevent obesity in their little ones.
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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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Helping communities use proven obesity-prevention ideas for kids
A study will test network-based approaches to help coalitions that serve underserved communities adopt proven obesity-prevention strategies for children.
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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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GrowSmart: A kid-friendly AI tool to help primary care teams prevent obesity
A pediatric primary care tool using artificial intelligence helps identify kids at risk for obesity and supports doctors and families in choosing healthy lifestyle steps.
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.