Helping children with obesity manage their weight using new psychological approaches
Official title: Wise Social Psychological Interventions to Improve Outcomes of Behavioral Weight Control in Children with Obesity
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11131711 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores if adding special psychological exercises can help children with obesity achieve better and longer-lasting weight management when combined with a family-based program.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2019 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $768,412 |
| NIH project number | 2R01DK123286-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11131711 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children aged 10-15 with obesity (BMI at or above the 95th percentile) and their parents who are willing to participate in a family-based weight control program.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not within the 10-15 age range or do not have obesity as defined by a BMI at or above the 95th percentile may not be suitable for this specific project.
What this research studies
This project is testing if adding two specific psychological techniques, called "growth mindset" and "self-affirmation," can improve the success of a standard family-based weight management program for children with obesity. Children aged 10-15 will participate with their parents in a six-month program. Half of these families will also receive these new psychological exercises, which are designed to help overcome common mental barriers to weight management. The goal is to see if these "wise" interventions can lead to a greater and more sustained reduction in body mass index over 12 months.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer children with obesity more effective and lasting ways to manage their weight by addressing psychological challenges.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific combination of these "wise" interventions with a behavioral weight control program is being tested, similar social psychological interventions have shown promise in influencing behavior in other contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Robinson, Thomas N. — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Robinson, Thomas 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.