Game-based mobile app to help pregnant women with overweight/obesity in Nepal manage weight
Official title: Leveraging game-based mobile app to limit excessive weight gain and retention among pregnant women with overweight and obesity
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11416297 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mobile app designed for pregnant women in Nepal who start pregnancy overweight or obese to help them manage weight gain and reduce postpartum weight retention.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $153,642 |
| NIH project number | 5R21TW012615-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416297 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant women in Nepal who enter pregnancy overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²), in the second trimester, with access to a mobile device.
✕Less likely to help
Women without access to a compatible mobile device or those not in the second trimester may not benefit from this app-based approach.
What this research studies
This project will adapt an existing health app into a game-based tool (GWG-DH) tailored for Nepalese women in the second trimester. Researchers will use a user-centered, agile design approach to refine the app for weight management during pregnancy and test its impact on limiting excessive gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention. The study involves a two-arm randomized design to compare the GWG-DH app against standard care, conducted within Nepal with partnerships from Kathmandu University and Dhulikhel Hospital. The aim is to create an accessible, scalable digital intervention that fits the local context and mobile infrastructure. Expected work includes development, usability testing, and a pilot randomized trial to assess feasibility and potential effectiveness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the app could help pregnant women in Nepal gain a healthy amount of weight and reduce long-term health risks for both mother and child.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work with mobile health apps in pregnancy shows promise, but this specific game-based approach for GWG in a South Asian population is novel and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rawal, Shristi — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Rawal, Shristi
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Game-based mobile app to help pregnant women with overweight/obesity manage weight in Nepal
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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.