Engaging men in weight loss with a game-based mental training and app program
Official title: Engaging men in weight loss with a game-based mHealth and neurotraining program
Funded at Oregon Research Institute · NIH-11496318 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A game-based mobile program designed for American men to help them lose weight by combining engaging gaming features with brain training.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Springfield, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | March 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $576,895 |
| NIH project number | 7R01DK128524-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11496318 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are American men in the target age range who are seeking weight loss and willing to use a mobile app.
✕Less likely to help
Men not interested in apps or gaming-based approaches may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on men in the U.S. who want to lose weight and may be underserved by traditional programs. It tests a gamified mobile health app that includes neurotraining elements to improve people’s self-control and healthy choices, using adaptive difficulty and rewards. The goal is to make weight loss more appealing and effective for men by combining entertainment with cognitive skills training.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could provide a more engaging route for men to lose weight and keep it off.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts show mixed results for gamified apps; this study explores a novel combination with neurotraining.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Research Institute
Springfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hagerman, Charlotte — Oregon Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Hagerman, Charlotte
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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.