Game-based mobile app to help pregnant women with overweight/obesity manage weight in Nepal
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-11601016 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new app designed for pregnant women in Nepal with overweight or obesity to help manage weight gain during pregnancy and reduce weight retention after birth.
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) | $27,415 |
| NIH project number | 3R21TW012615-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11601016 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant women in Nepal with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m², in their second trimester, who have access to a mobile device.
✕Less likely to help
Women without access to mobile technology or with BMI < 25 kg/m² may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will adapt and test a game-based mobile app (GWG-DH) for overweight or obese pregnant women in Nepal. Researchers will use user-centered design to tailor an existing app to local needs, with a two-arm randomized design to measure its impact on gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention. The study leverages Nepal’s high mobile phone use and strong academic partnerships to support scalable, real-world testing. If successful, the app could become a widely accessible tool to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies in similar settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, the app could help pregnant women gain weight within recommended ranges and reduce long-term weight retention, improving maternal and child health.
How similar studies have gone: There is prior work on mHealth tools for pregnancy health; this project builds on a locally adapted app and uses a rigorous RCT design to test effectiveness.
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 in Nepal manage weight
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.
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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.