Making an online weight loss program better for people in poverty who get care at their regular doctor's office
Adapting Online Obesity Treatment for Primary Care Patients in Poverty
This project aims to make an existing online weight loss program more helpful and accessible for adults living in poverty who receive care at their primary doctor's office.
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 ID | NIH-11099900 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people living in poverty face health challenges like obesity and diabetes, which can be made worse by their living situations. While there are effective weight loss programs, they often don't reach people with lower incomes. This project focuses on an online weight loss program called Rx Weight Loss, which has not been widely used by patients with low income, even though it can be delivered affordably through primary care. Researchers want to understand why this program isn't reaching these patients and then make changes to it so it better fits their needs and circumstances. The goal is to adapt the program to be more relevant and useful for adults in poverty, helping them manage their weight and improve their overall health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 21 and older who live in poverty, have obesity, and receive their healthcare through a primary care provider.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have obesity, are not in poverty, or do not use primary care services may not directly benefit from this specific adaptation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a more effective and accessible online weight loss program for adults in poverty, potentially improving their health and reducing the risk of conditions like diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: While the original online program has shown effectiveness, this specific adaptation for patients in poverty is a novel approach to increase its adoption and adherence in this underserved population.
Where this research is happening
Providence, United States
- Miriam Hospital — Providence, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chou, Po-Hun — Miriam Hospital
- Study coordinator: Chou, Po-Hun
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 below.