Helping military parents promote healthy lifestyles for their infants
Official title: Adaptation of an Evidence-based Family Program for Obesity Prevention in Health Care Context: Testing Outcomes and Mechanisms with First-time Military Parents and their Infants
Funded at Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-11126787 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a friendly program called Family Foundations Plus to help first-time military parents create a healthier lifestyle for themselves and their babies, focusing on teamwork and support before and after their child is born.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $683,215 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK133525-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11126787 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are first-time military parents expecting a child or those with infants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not first-time military parents or those without infants may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on a family-centered program designed to help first-time military parents adopt healthier lifestyles and reduce obesity risk in their infants. The program, called Family Foundations Plus (FF+), aims to improve coparenting relationships and encourage healthy behaviors before and after the birth of their child. Through a series of classes held in healthcare settings, parents will learn strategies to support each other in fostering a healthy environment for their family. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention in reducing rapid infant weight gain and postpartum weight retention among new mothers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to healthier weight outcomes for infants and improved well-being for new parents in military families.
How similar studies have gone: Previous iterations of the Family Foundations program have shown success in improving family dynamics and child outcomes, indicating a strong foundation for this adapted approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State University, the
University Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Feinberg, Mark Ethan — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Feinberg, Mark Ethan
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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.