Digital family program to help children with obesity
Leveraging Interactive Digital Technology to Increase Access to Family-Based Behavioral Treatment for Childhood Obesity
A digital family program to help children with obesity and their caregivers learn healthy habits and manage weight.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | 3-C Institute for Social Development NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Mebane, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11142410 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project is building an all-in-one digital version of Family-based Behavioral Treatment (FBT) that families can use at home. It combines personalized interactive tools for children and caregivers, online training for providers, and digital supports to practice new skills. The makers plan to expand an existing professional e-training platform into a packaged intervention (FBT 2.0) that can be delivered widely. The goal is to make a proven family therapy easier to access without losing the core coaching and behavior-change strategies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children with overweight or obesity and their caregivers who want a structured, family-focused digital program to support healthy habits are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Families without reliable internet or device access, caregivers unable to participate, or children needing specialized medical weight-management care may not benefit from this digital program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the product could let many more families access an evidence-based program to improve child weight, habits, and related health risks like Type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Family-based behavioral treatment is an evidence-based approach for pediatric obesity and prior work shows it can work, while digital delivery is promising but still being expanded and tested.
Where this research is happening
Mebane, UNITED STATES
- 3-C Institute for Social Development — Mebane, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Derosier, Melissa E. — 3-C Institute for Social Development
- Study coordinator: Derosier, Melissa 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.