Making daily dietary goals easier to stick to with a mobile weight-loss program
Official title: Optimizing dietary adherence in a mobile behavioral weight loss intervention for adults
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11411095 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests a mobile weight-loss program for adults to help them follow dietary plans more consistently and lose weight.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $738,785 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL178992-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411095 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years or older who are enrolled in the digital weight-loss program and identified as non-responders to initial treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not interested in using a smartphone app or not seeking weight-loss support may not benefit.
What this research studies
The project builds on a standard, automated mobile weight-loss program with minimal staff contact to help adults adhere to dietary recommendations. It uses a factorial trial within the MOST framework to figure out which components most strongly improve dietary adherence for people who don’t respond quickly to initial weight loss efforts. By focusing on proximal behavioral goals like tracking intake and following calorie targets, the study aims to tailor the intervention for better adherence and weight outcomes. Participants will use a smartphone app to log foods, monitor calories, and receive guidance designed to improve adherence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help more adults achieve meaningful weight loss through better dietary adherence using an accessible mobile platform.
How similar studies have gone: Prior mobile weight-loss programs show promise, but this trial tests specific adherence-focused components to optimize outcomes for non-responders.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nezami, Kimberly Brooke Tompkins — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Nezami, Kimberly Brooke Tompkins
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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.