Family-based weight support for Mexican American mothers and daughters
Improving Family Functioning in Obesity Treatment for Mexican American Women
This program helps Mexican American mothers and their adult daughters use family support and shared skills to lose weight and lower diabetes risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11138549 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You and your adult daughter or mother would join a program that brings family members into obesity treatment to set shared goals, practice collaborative problem solving, and improve communication. The project randomly assigns families to the family-focused approach or usual individual treatment and follows participants over time to track weight, health behaviors, and family functioning. The team addresses differences in acculturation between generations and teaches bicultural coping skills to improve relationships and support for weight management. Participation likely involves attending sessions, regular check-ins, and brief measurements at the UC San Diego site.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Mexican American women with overweight or obesity who are willing to participate together with an adult mother or adult daughter.
Not a fit: People without an available adult family member to participate, men, non–Mexican American individuals, or those seeking only medical procedures rather than behavioral programs may not benefit from this family-focused approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help families lose more weight together and lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by improving communication and shared support.
How similar studies have performed: Previous family-based weight-loss programs and bicultural competence interventions have shown promise for improving weight and family functioning, but randomized trials specifically enrolling Mexican American mother–daughter pairs are relatively limited.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marquez, Becky — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Marquez, Becky
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.