Helping low-income children access healthy after-school programs to prevent obesity
Official title: Increasing Low-income Children's Access to Healthy Structured Programming to Reduce Obesity
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11085292 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how after-school programs and summer camps can help keep kids aged 5-11 from gaining too much weight, especially for families who might struggle to afford healthy activities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $642,411 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK133169-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11085292 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are low-income children aged 5-11 who are at risk of obesity.
✕Less likely to help
Children from high-income families or those who are already enrolled in similar structured programs may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how structured after-school programs and summer camps can help prevent obesity in low-income children aged 5-11. By providing a safe and supervised environment filled with healthy activities, the project aims to reduce the risk of excessive weight gain during critical times when children are not in school. The study will explore the effectiveness of financial support programs to make these healthy options accessible to families who cannot afford them. Through rigorous testing, the research seeks to demonstrate the positive impact of structured programming on children's health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce obesity rates among low-income children by providing them with access to healthy activities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that structured programming can effectively reduce obesity rates in children, indicating a promising approach for this study.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weaver, Robert G — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Weaver, Robert G
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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.