How COVID-19 school closures affected children's weight
Official title: The impact of COVID-19 related school closures on children's weight status
Funded at Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · NIH-10915685 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic affected children's weight and whether food assistance programs helped them during that time, focusing on kids in low-income public schools in New Jersey.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tempe, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $716,321 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD104708-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10915685 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who attended public schools in New Jersey during the COVID-19 pandemic.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not school-aged or did not experience school closures during the pandemic may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic on children's weight status, focusing on both short and long-term effects. It also examines the effectiveness of food assistance programs aimed at children during these closures. By collecting height and weight data from students in low-income public schools in New Jersey, the study aims to understand how prolonged school interruptions influence children's body mass index (BMI). The research will analyze data from approximately 30,000 students over several years to draw meaningful conclusions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide insights into how to better support children's health during crises and inform future public health policies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that school interruptions can lead to weight gain in children, suggesting that this study's approach is grounded in established findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
Tempe, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ohri-Vachaspati, Punam — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
- Study coordinator: Ohri-Vachaspati, Punam
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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.