Helping children manage their weight by addressing eating behaviors
Official title: Addressing appetitive traits to promote weight management in children who overeat
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11095830 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new program called Regulation of Cues (ROC) to help children who have trouble with overeating learn to better manage their weight by recognizing when they're full and not reacting as much to food temptations, with support from their parents.
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 start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $685,849 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK135599-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11095830 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who struggle with overeating and have overweight or obesity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have issues with overeating or who are within a healthy weight range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on children who struggle with overeating and aims to improve weight management through a new program called Regulation of Cues (ROC). The ROC program is designed to help children by reducing their responsiveness to food cues and increasing their ability to recognize when they are full. The study will involve a randomized controlled trial across multiple sites, including UC San Diego and the University of Minnesota, to evaluate the effectiveness of this approach. Parents will also be involved in the treatment process to support their children's weight management journey.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new, effective method for helping children with overweight or obesity manage their eating behaviors and improve their overall health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using behavioral interventions to address eating behaviors in children, making this approach a potentially valuable advancement.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boutelle, Kerri N — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Boutelle, Kerri N
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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.