NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Multi-dimensional approach to reduce weight and health disparities in young adults

Official title: Multi-dimensional Approach to Address Excess Weight and Pre-Diabetes Health Disparities in Young Adults

Funded at North Carolina Central University · NIH-11387615 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A university-based program aims to create tailored, community-informed weight loss and health-promotion strategies for college-age adults in limited-resource settings.

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Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNorth Carolina Central University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Durham, United States)
Project startSeptember 20, 2017
Project endMay 31, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$463,338
NIH project number5U54MD012392-10
Project IDNIH-11387615 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates are college-age young adults in limited-resource university settings who are interested in weight loss and healthier lifestyles.

Less likely to help

Individuals not seeking weight management or those outside the university setting may not experience direct benefit.

What this research studies

This grant focuses on young adults in college who are at higher risk of gaining weight. It plans to study how the campus environment, social networks, personal beliefs, and biology interact to influence weight-related behaviors. Digital tools and tailored behavioral techniques will be used to deliver weight management strategies beyond just information. The project will evaluate how well these strategies work in real-world university settings and how they can be adapted to different communities.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could provide scalable, tailored weight-management approaches that fit university environments and improve long-term health for young adults.

How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests behavioral and digital approaches can improve weight outcomes, with greater effects when tailored to the audience.

Where this research is happening

  • North Carolina Central University
    Durham, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Harrington, Cherise Baldwin — North Carolina Central University
  • Study coordinator: Harrington, Cherise Baldwin

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • How prediabetes and type 2 diabetes begin in young people

    This project tests whether the diabetes medicine liraglutide can protect insulin-making cells and reduce fatty liver in obese youth with early blood sugar problems.

    NIH research Yale University · New Haven, United States · NIH-11161546

  • Reducing excess weight and early diabetes risk in young adults

    This project offers community-tailored and digital weight-management programs to help college students and other young adults in limited-resource areas lower excess weight and reduce early diabetes risk.

    NIH research North Carolina Central University · Durham, United States · NIH-11111295

  • Investigating the link between obesity, insulin resistance, and asthma severity

    This study is looking at how insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and diabetes impact asthma control in people with obesity who have asthma, especially those getting weight loss surgery, to help understand how these conditions might affect their breathing and overall health.

    NIH research Baylor College of Medicine · Houston, United States · NIH-11072964

  • HEARTS hypertension and diabetes care in Guatemala

    This grant tests how well the HEARTS primary care model works in Guatemala to improve blood pressure and blood sugar control for patients.

    NIH research University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, United States · NIH-11645315

  • Retinal signals in early diabetes and how they affect vision

    This grant looks at how diabetes changes the signals in the retina that control vision, with a focus on inner retinal cells and how these changes may lead to vision problems.

    NIH research University of Arizona · Tucson, United States · NIH-11641965

  • Integrated Heart Health: A HEARTS-based approach to hypertension and diabetes in Guatemala

    A study tests a team-based, stepwise care model to improve blood pressure and blood sugar control for people with both hypertension and diabetes in Guatemala.

    NIH research University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, United States · NIH-11637221

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.