Digital program to help pregnant people keep weight gain on track
Official title: Efficacy of a Novel Digital Platform to Scale-Up a Personalized Prenatal Weight Gain Intervention Using Control Systems Methodology
Funded at Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-11290317 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A remote, personalized digital program uses automated rules to help pregnant people with overweight or obesity keep weight gain within healthy ranges.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $636,095 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK134863-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11290317 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pregnant people with pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity who are early in pregnancy and willing to use a remote app and share regular weight data.
✕Less likely to help
People with normal pre-pregnancy weight, those with high-risk pregnancies requiring specialized medical care, or those unable or unwilling to use remote technology may not benefit from this program.
What this research studies
If I'm pregnant and start the program, it monitors my weight and changes the level of support I get—like extra activity or eating guidance—based on how my weight is trending. The program is delivered mostly remotely through a digital platform that automatically adapts treatment dose using control-system decision rules. Earlier testing of this Healthy Mom Zone approach showed good adherence, lower burden when delivered remotely, and about 21% lower average pregnancy weight gain. This project aims to scale up that digital approach so prenatal clinicians could use it more widely.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This could help pregnant people with overweight or obesity stay within recommended gestational weight gain ranges and lower risks for mother and baby.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials of the Healthy Mom Zone approach showed feasibility, better adherence with remote delivery, and about 21% lower mean gestational weight gain compared with controls.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State University, the
University Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Downs, Danielle Symons — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Downs, Danielle Symons
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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.