Just-in-time support to help people with obesity and chronic pain manage stress
Official title: Applying a just-in-time adaptive intervention framework to understand and treat dynamic, symptom-maintaining stress among individuals with comorbid obesity and pain
Funded at Miriam Hospital · NIH-11336541 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly plan using smartphone and wearable data to deliver timely help for stress that worsens obesity and pain in adults with these conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Miriam Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $202,563 |
| NIH project number | 2P20GM139767-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11336541 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21+ with obesity and chronic pain who own a smartphone and are willing to use wearable devices.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to compatible devices or who are not experiencing dynamic stress related to obesity and pain may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to use everyday technology to catch stress in the moment and provide personalized support to people with obesity and chronic pain. By tracking signals from smartphones and wearables, the program would offer timely behavioral prompts and strategies to reduce stress, improve eating and activity choices, and lessen pain in daily life. The approach focuses on integrating care for obesity and pain rather than treating them separately, with steps that fit into people’s real-world routines. Participants would engage with adaptive guidance designed to lessen symptom-maintaining behaviors and improve overall well-being.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience reduced pain, healthier weight-related behaviors, and better daily functioning through personalized, timely support.
How similar studies have gone: Early work on just-in-time adaptive interventions shows promise for managing health behaviors in daily life, but this specific obesity-pain-stress framework is being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Miriam Hospital
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Olson, Kayloni L. — Miriam Hospital
- Study coordinator: Olson, Kayloni L.
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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.