Lifestyle program to improve heart and metabolic health in women ages 18–25

An Integrated Lifestyle Intervention to Promote Cardiometabolic Health among Emerging Adult Women

NIH-funded research Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11286808

Helps women ages 18–25 improve sleep, diet, activity, and stress to lower inflammation and reduce future risk of heart and metabolic disease.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVirginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Richmond, United States)
Project IDNIH-11286808 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would take part in a lifestyle program tailored for emerging adult women that combines sleep, nutrition, physical activity, and stress-management strategies to reduce chronic low-level inflammation. The team will collect weight, sleep patterns, diet and activity information, psychological symptom reports, and inflammatory markers to guide personalized support. The program is designed specifically for people aged 18–25 because this age group faces unique stressors and behavior patterns that can make standard weight-loss programs less effective. Participation likely includes regular visits and follow-up over the project period to monitor progress and adjust the plan.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are women aged about 18–25 who are overweight or concerned about cardiometabolic risk and who experience sleep problems, stress, or depressive symptoms that affect lifestyle habits.

Not a fit: This program is not designed for men, people younger than 18 or older than 25, or individuals with advanced cardiometabolic disease who need specialized medical treatment.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lower inflammation and improve weight and metabolic risk factors, reducing long-term risk for heart disease and related conditions.

How similar studies have performed: Prior behavioral weight-loss programs for emerging adults have shown only modest benefits and women often benefit less, so this inflammation-focused, tailored approach is relatively novel though supported by preliminary data.

Where this research is happening

Richmond, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.