Helping military parents promote healthy lifestyles for their infants

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

NIH-funded research Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-11126787

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionPennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (University Park, United States)
Project IDNIH-11126787 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are first-time military parents expecting a child or those with infants.

Not a fit: Patients who are not first-time military parents or those without infants may not benefit from this research.

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 performed: 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

University Park, 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 2026-06-10 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.