Cooking skills to help young adults with intellectual disabilities keep weight off
Cooking skills to improve long-term weight loss in young adults with intellectual disabilities
This project teaches cooking, meal-planning, and daily-living skills to help young adults with intellectual disabilities (ages 18-26) lose weight and keep it off.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258921 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would learn practical, hands-on cooking and meal-planning skills using easy recipes and shopping tips adapted for people with intellectual disabilities. The program also teaches everyday living skills and includes support to increase physical activity so healthier choices fit into daily life. Caregivers and staff receive training to help you keep using the skills after classes end. The research team will follow participants over time to see whether these changes lead to lasting weight loss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are young adults (about 18-26 years old) with mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities, including Down syndrome, who are overweight or living with obesity.
Not a fit: People outside the target age range, those without intellectual disabilities, individuals with severe/profound cognitive impairment that prevents participation, or those who are not overweight may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help young adults with intellectual disabilities achieve long-term weight loss, reduce obesity-related health risks, and improve independence with daily activities.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier NIH-funded multi-component programs showed clinically meaningful short- and long-term weight loss in adults with mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities, but similar success has not yet been achieved specifically for young adults.
Where this research is happening
Kansas City, United States
- University of Kansas Medical Center — Kansas City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Donnelly, Joseph E. — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Donnelly, Joseph E.
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 below.