Helping low-income children access healthy after-school programs to prevent obesity

Increasing Low-income Children's Access to Healthy Structured Programming to Reduce Obesity

NIH-funded research University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11085292

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Columbia, United States)
Project IDNIH-11085292 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are low-income children aged 5-11 who are at risk of obesity.

Not a fit: Children from high-income families or those who are already enrolled in similar structured programs may not benefit from this research.

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 performed: 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

Columbia, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.