How immigration policies affect children's diets and obesity.
Official title: Immigration Policies, Dietary Acculturation, and Childhood Obesity.
Funded at Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-10870922 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how immigration policies affect what kids eat and their weight, especially for children with parents from Mexico, to help us understand how these rules might impact their health and well-being over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 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 9, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $160,400 |
| NIH project number | 1R03HD114957-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10870922 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-18 years with at least one immigrant parent, particularly those from Mexican backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Children who do not have immigrant parents or those outside the age range of 0-18 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of immigration policies on the dietary habits and obesity rates of children, particularly those with immigrant parents from Mexico. It aims to understand how structural factors, such as local immigration enforcement programs, influence the health and nutrition of these children. By analyzing a unique dataset that links immigration policy climates to national health data, the study will employ quasi-experimental and longitudinal methods to assess changes in diet and obesity over time. The findings could provide insights into the psychosocial stress faced by immigrant families and its effects on child health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved dietary guidelines and health interventions for children of immigrant families, potentially reducing obesity rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that immigration policies can significantly impact health outcomes in immigrant populations, suggesting that this approach has potential for meaningful insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State University, the
University Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fernandez-Rhodes, Lindsay — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Fernandez-Rhodes, Lindsay
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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.