Improving long-term weight loss maintenance strategies
Official title: Optimizing an extended care intervention to promote weight loss maintenance
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11078222 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for ways to help people keep off the weight they've lost by trying out easy strategies, like eating fewer different foods and doing simple exercises at home, and it's open to anyone who has lost at least 5% of their body weight.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $633,603 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK139059-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11078222 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults aged 21 and older who have recently achieved significant weight loss and are looking for support in maintaining that weight loss.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not currently engaged in a weight loss program or those who have not lost weight may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates ways to help individuals maintain weight loss after an initial weight loss phase. It focuses on developing and testing various low-effort strategies that can support ongoing weight management, such as reducing food variety and incorporating home-based exercise. Participants who have lost at least 5% of their body weight will be involved in a 12-month trial where they may receive different combinations of these supportive interventions. The goal is to find effective methods that require minimal effort from participants while still promoting adherence to weight loss maintenance behaviors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide patients with easier and more sustainable methods for maintaining weight loss over the long term.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that behavioral interventions can be effective for weight loss, but this approach is novel in its focus on minimizing participant burden.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dutton, Gareth R — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Dutton, Gareth R
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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.