Improving child obesity treatment by addressing family challenges with community support
Official title: Addressing social determinants of health in child obesity treatment using community health workers: the role of parental bandwidth in treatment effectiveness - feasibility study for full - scale RCT
Funded at Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo) · NIH-11049015 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how social challenges, like transportation and resources, affect families dealing with childhood obesity, especially those from minority or low-income backgrounds, and it aims to see if community health workers can help these families get the support they need to treat their children's obesity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $236,877 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK139363-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11049015 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-12 years from families facing social and economic challenges, particularly those from minority backgrounds or on Medicaid.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not face significant social or economic barriers to accessing obesity treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how social factors affect the treatment of childhood obesity, particularly focusing on families from racial and ethnic minority groups or those facing economic hardships. It aims to understand how community health workers can help families overcome logistical and emotional barriers, such as lack of transportation or resources, that hinder effective treatment. By addressing these social determinants of health, the study seeks to enhance the ability of parents to engage in obesity treatment for their children. The project will conduct a pilot study to assess the feasibility and acceptability of this approach before moving to a larger trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved obesity treatment outcomes for children by better supporting families in need.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that addressing social determinants of health can improve health outcomes, suggesting this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo)
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Laroche, Helena Hillman — Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo)
- Study coordinator: Laroche, Helena Hillman
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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.